£ 


A  MEMOIR 


OF 


THE  PUBLIC  SERVICES 


OF 


WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON, 


OF  OHIO. 


BY  JAMES  HALL. 


KEY  &  BIDDLE,  23  MINOR  STREET. 
1836. 


Entered  according  to  the  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1836, 
by  KEY  &  BIDDLE,  in  the  clerk's  office  of  the  district  court  for 
the  eastern  district  of  Pennsylvania. 


Stereotyped  by  John  Fagan Philadelphia. 


PREFACE. 


IHT  preparing  for  the  press  a  work  lately  pub 
lished,  containing  sketches  of  the  History  of 
the  Western  States,  the  author  became  pos 
sessed  of  a  large  number  of  facts,  connected 
with  the  public  services  of  General  Harrison. 
They  would  properly  have  formed  a  part  of 
the  work  alluded  to ;  but  as  that  had  already 
swelled  to  a  larger  size  than  had  been  antici 
pated,  as  these  would  form  in  themselves  a 
connected  narrative,  and  as  they  relate  to  an 
individual  whose  name  is  now  placed  before 
the  people  of  the  United  States,  under  circum 
stances  calculated  to  awaken  curiosity  in 
regard  to  his  history — it  has  been  thought  best 
to  arrange  these  materials  into  a  separate  vol 
ume.  It  is  mostly  a  compilation  from  other 
writers ;  among  which  the  author  especially 
acknowledges  his  obligations  to  Dawson,  the 
biographer  of  General  Harrison;  and  to 
M'Affee,  the  historian  of  the  late  war. 

M188351 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Mr.  Harrison's  birth,  parentage,  and  education Page  7 

CHAPTER  II. 

Situation  of  the  North-western  Territory  previous  to 
Wayne's  campaign — Intrigues  of  the  British — Defeat 
of  Harmer  and  St.  Clair — Appointment  of  Wayne — 
Organization  of  the  Legion 14 

CHAPTER  III. 

Mr.  Harrison's  first  appointment — His  services  under 
St.  Clair  and  Wilkinson — Wayne's  campaign 28 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Captain  Harrison  appointed  Secretary  of  the  Territory — 
His  first  election  to  Congress — His  services  in  refer- 
ence  to  the  sale  of  public  lands 56 

CHAPTER  V. 

Affairs  of  Indiana — Duties  of  Mr.  Harrison  as  Gover 
nor,  Superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  and  Commis 
sioner  for  treating  with  the  Indians -.  66 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Affairs  of  Indiana — The  Governor's  addresses  to  the 
Legislature 76 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Intrigues  of  Tecumthe  and  the  Prophet— State  of  the 
frontier — Machinations  of  the  British  agents — Popu 
larity  of  Mr.  Harrison 94 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Intrigues  of  Tecumthe — Council  at  Vincennes Ill 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Hostilities  commenced — Governor  Harrison  directed  to 
march  against  the  Prophet's  Town 120 


VI  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  X. 

Battle  of  Tippecanoe 132 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Declaration  of  War — Its  effect  on  the  West — Harrison 
called  into  service  by  the  people — Volunteers  from 
Kentucky 156 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Unprepared  state  of  the  country  at  the  commencement 
of  the  war — March  of  the  volunteers — Their  confi 
dence  in  Harrison 170 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Harrison  appointed  Commander-in-chief— Extent  of  his 
command — Difficulties  by  which  he  was  surrounded 
— Plan  of  operations 177 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Events  in  Indiana  and  Illinois — Movements  on  the 
North-western  frontier — Massacre  at  the  River  Raisin  201 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Opening  of  the  second  campaign  —  Siege  of  Fort 
Meigs — Brilliant  sortie — Defeat  of  Colonel  Dudley  222 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  mounted  regiment  under  Col.  R.  M.  Johnson. . . .  237 
CHAPTER  XVII. 

Second  siege  of  Fort  Meigs 245 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Preparations  for  the  invasion  of  Canada 265 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
Perry's  victory — Preparations  for  invading  Canada  . . .  270 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Invasion  of  Canada — Battle  of  the  Thames,  and  capture 
of  the  British  army — Expedition  to  Niagara — Resig 
nation  of  General  Harrison 275 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Civil  services  since  the  war 286 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
Conclusion— Character  of  General  Harrison , .  309 


MEMOIR 

OF 

WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON. 

CHAPTER  I. 
Mr.  Harrison's  birth,  parentage,  and  education. 

IT  is  one  of  the  happiest  results  of  our  republican 
institutions,  that  no  individual  can  claim  respect  on 
account  of  his  parentage.  The  property  accumu 
lated  by  the  industry  of  the  parent  may  be  trans 
mitted  to  his  offspring ;  every  man  has  a  right  to 
dispose,  as  he  pleases,  of  the  fruit  of  his  own  labour, 
and  the  law  facilitates  and  sanctions  its  descent  to 
those  who  stand  nearest  to  the  possessor  in  consan 
guinity  and  affection.  But  the  good  name  of  an 
honest  man,  or  the  fame  of  an  illustrious  citizen,  is 
earned  by  his  own  deeds ;  it  is  neither  gained  by 
inheritance,  nor  bestowed  by  devise. 

If  any  class  of  citizens  may  with  propriety  in 
dulge  the  pride  of  ancestry,  it  is  those  who  are  de 
scended  from  the  distinguished  patriots  and  virtuous 
men,  who,  by  their  talents,  their  sacrifices,  and 


*8,  itfEftcfeR    ©F 


their  blood,  have  become  justly  numbered  among 
the  benefactors  of  their  country.  The  sages  and 
heroes  of  the  American  Revolution  were  engaged 
in  a  noble  enterprise,  which  they  carried  triumph 
antly  to  a  successful  termination,  by  an  exertion 
of  wisdom,  patience,  courage,  and  forbearance, 
rarely  paralleled  in  the  history  of  the  world.  They 
disinterestedly  and  fearlessly  exposed  their  lives, 
and  jeoparded  their  fortunes,  for  their  country,  and 
for  posterity  —  for  a  country  too  poor  at  that  time 
to  reward  them  for  their  services,  and  in  a  cause 
too  uncertain  to  promise  any  immediate  personal 
advantages  to  those  who  bore  the  heat  and  burthen 
of  the  struggle.  Their  contemporaries  could  admire 
their  magnanimity  ;  it  is  for  us,  who  are  reaping 
the  rich  harvest  of  their  patriotic  labours,  to  testify 
the  gratitude  of  a  generous  people,  by  holding  their 
names  in  everlasting  honour  ;  and  when  a  descendant 
from  that  venerated  stock  combines  in  himself  qua 
lities  worthy  of  admiration,  his  claim  to  the  respect 
ful  consideration  of  his  countrymen,  is  at  least  not 
diminished  by  the  advantage  of  such  a  parentage. 
By  many  it  would  be  considered  as  greatly  en 
hanced,  and  the  services  of  a  distinguished  patriot 
would  derive  additional  lustre  from  the  fact  that  he 
had  trodden  in  the  footsteps  of  an  equally  illustri 
ous  father,  whose  unbought  and  unrequited  ser 
vices  had  been  freely  given  to  the  nation,  in  its 
day  of  peril  and  weakness.  Less  than  this  we 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON. 


could  not  say,  in  allusion  to  the  eminent  person 
whose  biography  we  are  about  to  place  before  the 
public — himself  a  warrior  and  statesman  of  no 
mean  repute,  and  the  son  of  one  who  was  conspi 
cuous  among  the  founders  of  the  American  republic. 

The  lives  of  public  men,  who  have  participated  v 
largely  in  affairs  of  general  interest,  form  a  part 
of  the  history  of  their  country,  and  should  be 
recorded  with  careful  fidelity,  for  the  instruction 
of  those  who  follow  after  them.  To  no  one  does 
this  remark  apply  more  justly  than  to  General  Har 
rison,  who  has  filled  with  honour  the  highest  places 
in  the  gift  of  his  country,  and  been  an  efficient  actor 
in  many  of  the  most  important  national  transac 
tions  which  have  taken  place  since  the  revolution. 
His  public  career  has  been  long  and  eventful ; 
nearly  his  whole  life  has  been  devoted  to  the  ser 
vice  of  his  country.  He  is  one  of  the  very  few 
remaining  among  us,  the  commencement  of  whose 
career  is  dated  back  to  the  first  days  of  the  repub 
lic,  who  have  grown  up  with  our  political  charac 
ter  and  public  institutions,  have  witnessed  the  gra 
dual  advance  of  our  country  from  infant  weakness 
to  mature  prosperity,  and  who  form  the  connecting 
link  between  the  generation  which  secured  our 
liberty,  and  that  which  is  enjoying  its  fruits.  Reared 
up  among  the  patriots  of  the  revolution,  under  the 
pure  and  vigorous  counsels  of  republican  simplici 
ty — appointed  to  his  first  office  by  the  sagacious 


10  MEMOIR    OF 

Washington — and  enjoying  successively  the  confi 
dence  of  the  elder  Adams,  Jefferson,  Madison,  and 
Monroe,  he  may  truly  be  said  to  have  been  taught 
and  trusted  in  the  purest  school  of  democracy. 

WILLIAM  HENRY  HARRISON  was  born  in  Vir 
ginia,  in  the  year  1773,  and  among  his  relations 
are  numbered  some  of  the  most  distinguished  men 
of  that  state.  His  father  was  Benjamin  Harrison, 
one  of  the  signers  of  the  declaration  of  independ 
ence,  to  whose  ardent  zeal  and  intrepidity  that 
body  of  patriots  were  greatly  indebted  for  their 
harmonious  organization.  In  the  Biography  of  the 
signers  of  the  declaration  of  independence,  an  inci 
dent  is  recorded,  which,  with  the  explanation  we 
are  enabled  to  add,  is  highly  illustrative  of  the  dis 
interested  love  of  country  which  animated  the  pub 
lic  men  of  that  day.  When  Mr.  Hancock  was 
appointed  to  succeed  Peyton  Randolph  as  President 
of  Congress,  it  is  said,  that,  "  with  a  modesty  not 
unnatural  at  his  years,  and  a  consciousness  of  the 
difficulty  he  might  experience  in  filling  a  station  of 
such  high  importance  and  responsibility,  he  hesitated 
to  take  the  seat.  Mr.  Harrison  was  standing  beside 
him,  and  with  the  ready  good-humour  that  loved  a 
joke,  even  in  the  Senate  house,  he  seized  the  modest 
candidate  in  his  athletic  arms,  and  placed  him  in 
the  presidential  chair ;  then  turning  to  some  of  the 
members  around,  he  exclaimed,  '  We  will  show 
mother  Britain  how  little  we  care  for  her,  by  mak- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  11 

ing  a  Massachusetts  man  our  president,  whom  she 
has  excluded  from  pardon  by  public  proclama 
tion.'  "*  The  truth  is,  that  a  large  portion  of  the 
members  of  that  Congress  wished  to  call  Mr.  Har 
rison  to  the  chair,  vacated  by  the  death  of  his  bro 
ther-in-law  Peyton  Randolph  ;  but  with  noble  self- 
denial,  and  admirable  judgment,  he  declined  in 
favour  of  John  Hancock,  and  insisted  on  his  taking 
the  post  of  honour.  The  latter,  not  to  be  outdone 
in  generosity,  was  willing  to  give  way  to  the  Vir 
ginia  delegate,  when  the  amicable  controversy  was 
terminated  in  the  manner  described,  and  a  coolness 
between  Virginia  and  Massachusetts  avoided,  which 
might  have  resulted,  had  a  contest  for  the  most 
conspicuous  place  in  Congress  been  permitted  be 
tween  the  distinguished  delegates  from  those  colo 
nies.  Benjamin  Harrison  afterwards  filled  the 
executive  chair  of  Virginia,  at  a  period  when  every 
energy  of  a  great  and  powerful  mind  was  neces 
sary  to  'keep  up  the  spirits  of  his  countrymen. 

William  Henry  Harrison,  the  third  and  youngest 
son  of  the  illustrious  patriot,  whose  name  we  have 
mentioned,  was  born  the  9th  of  February,  1773, 
in  Charles  City  county,  Virginia,  and  was  educated 
at  Hampden  Sydney  College.  He  inherited  from 
his  father  little  save  his  noble  example,  and  a  name 


*  WALN'S  Biography  of  the  Signers  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence. 


12  MEMOIR    OF 

identified  with  the  great  struggle  for  liberty.  His 
education  having  commenced  during  the  storms  of 
the  revolution,  he  imbibed  the  sentiments  of  repub 
licanism,  and  of  resistance  to  oppression,  which 
have  always  influenced  him  in  his  career  through 
life.  Dependent  on  his  own  exertions,  he  applied 
himself  with  great  ardour  to  the  study  of  medicine, 
and  was  about  to  graduate  as  a  practitioner,  when 
he  conceived  the  idea  of  serving  his  country  as  a 
soldier,  in  the  western  wilderness.  Being  under 
age,  his  guardian,  the  celebrated  Robert  Morris, 
used  every  exertion  to  induce  him  to  continue  his 
studies ;  for  that  penetrating  statesman  discerned, 
even  then,  in  his  young  friend,  the  germs  of  a  noble 
character,  and  was  desirous  of  giving  him  all  the 
advantages  of  scientific  attainment,  which  our 
country  could  afford,  and  of  placing  him  in  a  pro 
fession,  for  which  he  considered  him  peculiarly 
fitted  by  his  talents,  the  kindness  of  his  nature,  and 
the  suavity  of  his  manners.  The  desire  of  the 
young  student  to  distinguish  himself  in  the  defence 
of  our  western  frontiers,  under  the  accomplished 
but  unfortunate  St.  Clair,  predominated ;  and  Pre 
sident  Washington,  who  had  been  the  intimate 
friend  of  his  father,  sanctioned  his  views,  and  gave 
him  an  appointment  in  the  army. 

Thus,  although  young  Harrison  was  connected 
with  those  who  were  affluent,  he  commenced  his 
eventful  career  in  life,  without  the  advantages  of 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  13 

fortune.  Embracing  a  profession  which  seldom 
opens  the  way  to  wealth,  he  threw  himself  into  the 
ranks  of  patriotism,  and  gave  his  energies  to  his 
country,  with  a  patriot's  devotion.  His  was  not 
the  service  of  a  holiday  soldier.  He  lingered  not 
in  the  cities,  to  sport  the  gaudy  habiliments  of  the 
warrior  in  the  resorts  of  fashion  and  dissipation. 
The  nation  was  too  poor  to  support  its  officers  in 
idleness;  and  the  independent  spirit  of  Harrison 
would  not  permit  him  to  lead  a  life  of  useless  indo 
lence.  He  began,  at  the  early  age  of  nineteen,  to 
act  the  part  of  a  man  on  the  great  theatre  of  life, 
and  to  build  up  the  fabric  of  his  fortunes.  Select 
ing  a  dangerous  and  laborious  field  of  exertion,  he 
proceeded  at  once  to  the  post  of  honour  and  duty, 
and  entered  upon  that  perilous  and  active  career 
of  usefulness,  in  which  he  has  continued  to  be  en 
gaged,  with  but  little  interruption,  up  to  the  present 
time. 

2 


14  MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER  II. 

Situation  of  the  North-western  Territory  previous 
to  Wayne's  campaign — Intrigues  of  the  Brit 
ish — Defeat  of  Harmer  and  St.  Clair — Ap 
pointment  of  Wayne  —  Organization  of  the 
Legion. 

THE  war  in  which  Mr.  Harrison  first  met  the 
enemies  of  his  country,  may  properly  be  considered 
as  a  continuation  of  the  great  struggle  for  inde 
pendence.  When  peace  was  concluded  with  Great 
Britain  in  1783,  many  of  the  Indian  tribes,  who 
had  been  in  alliance  with  that  power,  refused  to  lay 
down  the  hatchet,  but  continued  to  perpetrate  their 
merciless  outrages  upon  the  frontier  settlements. 
These  had  now  extended  themselves  into  the  beau 
tiful  valley  of  the  Ohio,  and  were  spreading  rapidly 
over  the  fertile  lands  of  that  delightful  region. 
About  the  year  1763,  the  hardy  borderers  from 
Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  and  Virginia,  taking  ad 
vantage  of  a  short  season  of  peace  with  the  Indians, 
had  begun  to  cluster  around  the  forts  at  Redstone, 
Pittsburgh,  and  Wheeling,  and  thence  spread  along 
the  margins  of  the  Monongahela  and  Ohio,  in  Penn 
sylvania  and  Western  Virginia.  Previous  to  the 
breaking  out  of  the  revolution,  the  savages  again 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  15 

became  troublesome ;  but  the  gallant  pioneers  main 
tained  their  ground,  and  when  the  storm  of  the 
revolution  thickened  around  them,  they  supported 
these  distant  outposts  with  the  most  obstinate  va 
lour. 

At  a  period  a  little  later,  and  just  before  the  com 
mencement  of  the  revolutionary  war,  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee  began  to  be  peopled  from  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina,  and  the  work  of  emigration  was 
carried  successfully  forward  during  the  continu 
ance  of  that  hard-fought  struggle.  These  early 
adventurers  were  not  only  opposed  by  hostile  sav 
ages,  who  fought  for  the  possession  of  the  soil 
which  they  had  occupied  through  ages  countless  to 
the  present  historian,  but  by  the  wealth,  the  wea 
pons,  and  the  skill,  of  our  European  oppressor. 
While  the  armies  of  the  republic  were  gaining  im 
perishable  renown  under  the  standard  of  liberty,  at 
various  points  throughout  the  eastern,  middle,  and 
southern  states,  the  patriotic  inhabitants  of  the 
frontier  were  not  less  active ;  but  honourably  sus 
tained  the  common  cause,  and  under  the  orders  of 
such  men  as  Clark,  Seveir,  Shelby,  Scott,  Logan, 
and  other  equally  gallant  leaders,  performed  many 
brilliant  achievements.  When  the  American  recurs 
with  admiration  to  the  eventful  story  of  our  contest 
for  independence,  it  should  never  be  forgotten,  that 
the  decisive  battle  of  King's  Mountain  was  fought 
by  riflemen  from  the  western  forests,  who  had 


16  MEMOIR    OF 

crossed  the  Allegheny  ridge  by  laborious  marches, 
to  aid  their  oppressed  brethren  in  breaking  the  yoke 
of  the  tory  ascendancy,  leaving  their  own  homes 
exposed  to  the  predatory  incursions  of  the  savage. 
Nor  are  these  services  to  be  slightly  valued.  They 
formed  an  important  part  of  the  great  military 
drama.  The  pioneers,  by  keeping  the  savages 
employed  on  the  western  waters,  held  in  check  an 
immense  mass  of  merciless  warriors,  who  would 
otherwise  have  been  poured  into  the  heart  of  the 
middle  and  southern  states,  destroying  the  cities, 
and  violating  the  firesides,  of  a  country  which, 
even  without  this  scourge,  was  bleeding  at  every 
pore.  Washington  estimated  these  services  at  their 
true  value,  and  Britain  never  forgave  them. 

Scarcely  had  the  thunder  of  artillery  ceased  to 
roll  over  the  battle-fields,  when  the  north-western 
territory  began  to  receive  inhabitants.  A  hardy 
band  from  New-Jersey  and  Pennsylvania  founded 
Cincinnati,  a  colony  of  French  settled  at  Gallipolis, 
and  the  people  of  New-England  seated  themselves 
at  Marietta,  and  on  the  Connecticut  reserve.  Others 
followed  them,  and  point  after  point  was  rapidly 
occupied ;  but  the  war  of  the  revolution  was  not 
yet  concluded.  The  harvest  was  ripened,  but  not 
gathered  in.  The  independence  of  America  was 
acknowledged,  but  not  secured.  The  billow  had 
rolled  over  the  Atlantic  states,  but  the  surge  was 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  17 

breaking  upon  the  forests  of  the  west.     Here  the 
tomahawk  was  still  busy. 

A  calm  retrospect  of  these  events  must  satisfy 
every  unprejudiced  mind  that  Great  Britain,  in 
reluctantly  consenting  to  acknowledge  the  inde 
pendence  of  the  United  States,  had  been  driven  by 
the  valour  of  our  fathers  into  a  measure  which  she 
was  determined  to  retract,  upon  the  first  favourable 
opportunity.  The  noble  sentiment  expressed  by 
her  King,  at  his  first  interview  with  Mr.  Adams — 
"  I  was  the  last  to  conform  to  the  separation ;  but 
the  separation  having  been  made,  I  would  be  the 
first  to  meet  the  friendship  of  the  United  States  as 
an  independent  power" — was  not  responded  by  the 
feelings  of  his  people,  or  the  action  of  his  govern 
ment.  They  never  relinquished  the  hope  of  punish 
ing  the  rebel,  and  regaining  the  country;  and 
unhappily  for  us,  they  possessed  the  means  of 
annoying  us,  and  keeping  alive  their  unhallowed 
lust  for  revenge.  We  were  weak,  and  they  were 
strong.  Predominant  on  the  ocean,  our  commerce 
was  at  their  mercy ;  nor  did  they  cease  to  cripple 
our  trade,  to  impress  our  seamen,  and  insult  our 
flag,  until  a  series  of  brilliant  victories  on  the  ocean 
had  taught  them  that  we  had  the  strength  and  the 
spirit  to  maintain  our  rights.  On  the  north-western 
frontier  they  held  a  chain  of  fortresses  garrisoned 
by  disciplined  troops,  and  they  had  a  band  of 
trained  emissaries  moving  over  the  vast  wilderness, 
2* 


18  MEMOIR    OF 

and  uniting  the  tribes  against  us.  With  the  single 
object  in  view  of  repressing  the  expansion  of  our 
population,  by  depriving  us  of  the  traffic  with  the 
Indians,  and  embittering  them  to  acts  of  outrage, 
they  conciliated  them  with  presents,  roused  their 
passions  by  supplying  them  with  the  dreadful 
means  of  intoxication,  and  furnished  them  with 
weapons. 

This  fiendish  combination  between  the  civilized 
and  savage  man,  warring  against  the  social  princi 
ple  and  the  sacred  rights  of  the  fireside,  immolating 
the  peaceful  citizen,  the  female,  and  the  helpless 
infant,  upon  the  altar  of  revenge, — retarding  the 
spread  of  the  arts,  and  rolling  back  the  tide  of 
knowledge  and  religion,  continued  to  operate  until 
it  was  broken  up  by  the  successful  valour  of  an 
indignant  people.  The  brilliant  victories  on  the 
northern,  north-western,  and  southern  frontiers, 
redeemed  our  country  from  the  thraldom  of  foreign 
influence,  and  added  the  names  of  Macomb,  Scott, 
Brown,  Jackson,  and  Harrison,  with  a  host  of 
others,  to  the  glorious  list  of  those  who  fought 
for  independence.  Washington  and  his  associates 
gained  the  victory,  Wayne  and  his  contemporaries 
improved  it,  and  the  military  and  naval  heroes  of 
the  last  war  struck  the  final  blow  which  rendered 
it  secure  and  lasting. 

From  1783  to  1790,  it  was  estimated  that  fifteen 
hundred  men  women,  and  children,  had  been 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  19 

killed  or  taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians  upon  the 
waters  of  the  Ohio ;  more  than  two  thousand 
horses  were  stolen  from  the  inhabitants;  houses 
had  been  burned,  fields  ravaged,  boats  plundered, 
and  property  destroyed  to  an  unknown  amount. 
Still  the  settlements  grew,  and  the  gallant  pioneers 
sustained  the  war  with  undaunted  spirit.  The  Bri 
tish,  in  defiance  of  a  solemn  treaty,  continued  to 
hold  military  posts  within  our  acknowledged  terri 
tory,  to  tamper  with  the  tribes  in  our  limits,  and 
faithlessly  to  supply  the  munitions  of  war,  to  be 
used  against  a  civilized  people  at  peace  with  her 
self. 

Every  effort  by  negotiation  having  failed  to 
restore  peace,  Brigadier  General  Harmer,  a  most 
accomplished  gentleman  and  skilful  officer,  was  or 
dered  to  advance  into  the  Indian  country  with  a 
force  deemed  sufficient  to  chastise  the  savages, 
break  up  their  towns,  and  force  them  to  peace. 
The  defeat  of  that  gallant  officer,  after  he  had  ac 
complished  some  of  the  objects  of  the  campaign, 
and  the  annihilation  of  his  army  by  an  overwhelm 
ing  force,  carried  dismay  throughout  the  frontier, 
and  inspired  the  Indians  with  fresh  confidence. 

A  new  army  was  raised,  and  placed  under  the 
command  of  Major  General  St.  Clair,  a  veteran 
and  skilful  soldier  of  the  revolution,  in  whom 
Washington  placed  entire  confidence.  The  public 
had  become  aware  of  the  magnitude  of  the  trust 


20  MEMOIR    OF 

reposed  in  this  gentleman,  and  the  eyes  of  the 
nation  were  directed  towards  him  with  anxious 
solicitude.  They  hoped  every  thing  from  his  tal 
ents,  experience,  and  unquestioned  courage ;  they 
feared  every  thing  from  the  numbers  and  ferocity 
of  the  enemy,  who  were  rendered  audacious  by 
their  recent  victory.  The  honour  of  the  federal 
government  was  at  stake ;  the  confidence  of  the 
people  in  its  wisdom,  and  the  respect  of  foreign 
nations,  could  only  be  secured  by  striking  a  suc 
cessful  blow,  which  should  at  once  blast  the  cor 
roding  influence  of  the  foreign  incendiary,  and  give 
security  to  a  frontier  so  long  the  scene  of  rapine, 
conflagration,  and  slaughter.  The  result  is  too 
well  known.  A  variety  of  unforeseen  and  uripro- 
pitious  circumstances  combined  to  foil  the  skill  of 
St.  Glair ;  and  on  the  4th  of  November,  1791,  his 
gallant  army  was  defeated  with  great  loss,  near  the 
Miami  villages,  by  a  confederated  body  of  Indians, 
under  the  command  of  the  Little  Turtle,  a  consum 
mate  warrior,  and  aided  by  white  auxiliaries  from 
Canada.  Upwards  of  thirty  officers,  and  near  a 
thousand  men,  were  slain.  Among  the  former  was 
General  Butler,  a  distinguished  soldier  of  the  revo 
lution. 

The  defeat  of  St.  Clair  filled  the  whole  country 
with  consternation  and  mourning.  A  succession 
of  disasters  had  rendered  the  war  unpopular.  The 
gallant  spirits  whose  inclinations  would  have  led 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  21 

them  to  the  field,  shrunk  from  a  contest  so  laborious 
and  unsuccessful,  in  which  a  victory  would  yield 
little  honour,  while  defeat  was  attended  with  torture 
and  death  in  their  most  horrible  forms.  To  fall  by 
the  rifle,  the  tomahawk,  and  the  seal  ping-knife, 
had  thus  far  been  the  fate  of  those  who  had  ven 
tured  upon  these  perilous  wars.  The  vast  expend 
itures  made  in  the  two  recent  expeditions  had 
drained  the  treasury,  and  fallen  heavily  upon  the 
resources  of  the  country ;  parties  were  becoming 
formed  in  the  nation,  and  in  Congress,  for  and 
against  the  prosecution  of  war,  and  the  whole 
aspect  of  the  times  was  gloomy. 

It  was  a  crisis  worthy  the  mind  of  Washington. 
To  vindicate  the  honour  of  the  nation,  to  crush  the 
growing  discontent  of  factions,  to  rescue  the  fron 
tier  from  devastation,  and  to  secure  the  permanency 
of  the  free  institutions  which  had  just  been  estab 
lished  by  a  long  and  bloody  war,  required  all  the 
coolness  and  discrimination  of  his  great  intellect. 

The  war  had  risen  into  importance.  It  had 
ceased  to  be  a  matter  of  local  interest,  but  had 
.swelled  into  a  national  contest,  involving  danger 
to  the  union.  The  Indians  were  confederated,  and 
the  hand  of  Britain  was  seen  directing  their  move 
ments.  It  became  necessary  to  place  our  armies 
under  the  command  of  a  military  chief  of  consum 
mate  abilities  and  established  reputation — one  who 
should  be  brave,  energetic,  and  fertile  in  expedient 


22  MEMOIR    OF 

— a  leader  of  sound  judgment,  ripe  experience,  and 
great  prudence,  who,  besides  possessing  the  highest 
qualities  of  the  soldier,  would  command  the  confi 
dence  of  the  public. 

The  choice  of  the  President  was  balanced  for  a 
time  between  two  distinguished  individuals — George 
Rogers  Clark,  and  Anthony  Wayne.  Both  had 
served  with  brilliant  reputation  in  the  revolutionary 
war — both  had  rare  endowments  of  intellect  and 
military  genius — both  had  held  important  separate 
commands,  and  had  earned  the  most  enviable  dis 
tinction  in  daring  and  successful  exploits  planned 
and  executed  by  themselves.  The  latter  was  event 
ually  chosen,  and  by  his  able  conduct  in  this  pro 
tracted  and  dangerous  war,  added  a  new  laurel  to 
his  own  wreath,  and  another  to  the  already  exist 
ing  proofs  of  the  discriminating  mind  of  Wash 
ington.  With  Wayne  were  associated  Brigadier 
Generals  James  Wilkinson  and  Thomas  Posey, 
revolutionary  officers  of  high  repute :  the  former 
had  shown  himself  an  active  partisan  leader  in 
several  recent  expeditions  against  the  Indians ;  the 
latter  had  shared  for  several  years  the  toils  and 
confidence  of  Wayne,  had  led  a  battalion  in  the 
desperate  assault  of  Stony  Point,  and  shared  the 
eventful  fortunes  of  Mad  Anthony,  from  the  icy 
plains  of  the  Canadian  frontier,  to  the  burning 
sands  of  Georgia. 

A  writer  who  seems  to  have  been  intimately 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  23 

versed  in  this  subject,  has  given  the  following  de 
scription  of  the  formation  of  Wayne's  Legion. 
«« On  the  25th  of  May,  17&2,  General  Wayne  hav 
ing  been  furnished  by  the  Secretary  of  War  with 
the  instructions  of  the  President,  in  which  it  was 
emphatically  expressed,  '  that  another  defeat  would 
be  inexpressibly  ruinous  to  the  reputation  of  the 
government,'  took  leave  of  his  family  and  friends, 
and  repaired  to  Pittsburgh,  the  place  appointed  for 
the  rendezvous  of  the  troops,  where  he  arrived 
early  in  June.  By  a  new  organization,  the  army 
was  to  consist  of  one  major  general,  four  brigadier 
generals  and  their  respective  staffs,  the  commis 
sioned  officers,  and  5120  non-commissioned  officers 
and  privates,  the  whole  to  be  denominated  '  The 
Legion  of  the  United  States.'  The  legion  to  be 
divided  into  four  sub-legions,  each  to  consist  of 
commissioned  officers  named,  and  1280  non-com 
missioned  officers  and  privates.  The  previous  army 
having  been  nearly  annihilated,  a  new  one  was  to 
be  recruited.  Most  of  the  experienced  officers  hav 
ing  been  slain  in  the  defeats  of  Harmer  and  St. 
Glair,  or  resigned  their  commissions,  the  labours 
of  the  commanding  general  were  augmented  to  an 
extent  which  nothing  but  the  most  unwearied  pa 
tience  and  ardent  zeal  could  have  performed.  Many 
of  the  officers,  as  well  as  of  the  soldiers,  had  yet  to 
learn  the  rudiments  of  their  profession.  The  or 
ganization  of  the  troops,  military  tactics,  discipline, 


24  MEMOIR    OF 

&c.,  devolved  so  far  upon  the  general  as  to  leave 
him  scarcely  time,  without  infinite  labour,  to  keep 
up  the  correspondence  incident  to  his  station.  His 
efforts  were  indefatigable ;  and  it  is  impossible  at 
the  present  day  to  form  an  adequate  idea  of  the 
difficulties  he  had  to  encounter,  the  labours  to  per 
form,  and  the  obstacles  to  surmount.  So  panic- 
struck  was  the  whole  country"  (meaning  that  part 
of  it  distant  from  the  scene  of  danger, — for  the 
pioneers  stood  firm)  "  at  the  repeated  and  bloody 
successes  of  the  enemy,  that  an  engagement  with 
them  was  looked  to  as  certain  defeat.  A  perfect 
horror  seemed  to  seize  the  recruits,  when  marched 
from  the  rendezvous  where  they  had  enlisted,  and 
their  faces  turned  to  join  the  army.  In  a  letter  to 
the  Secretary  of  War,  dated  Pittsburgh,  20th  July, 
1792,  General  Wayne  says,  'The  detachment 
under  Major  Ashton  arrived  at  this  place  on  Mon 
day  ;  Lieutenant  Campbell's,  with  Stokes'  dragoons, 
and  Captain  Faulkner's  riflemen,  on  Tuesday.  I 
am,  however,  sorry  to  inform  you  of  the  alarming 
desertion  that  prevailed  in  Ashton's  detachment  and 
Stokes'  dragoons.  Not  less  than  fifty  of  the  for 
mer,  and  seven  of  the  latter,  deserted  on  their  march 
between  Carlisle  and  Pittsburgh.' 

"  Another  fact  will  show  the  degree  of  terror  that 
the  name  of  Indian  had  inspired,  and  the  extraor 
dinary  difficulties  the  general  had  to  surmount,  to 
introduce  obedience,  self-confidence,  and  courage , 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  25 

A  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated  Pittsburgh, 
10th  of  August,  1792,  says,  *  Desertions  have  been 
frequent  and  alarming.  Two  nights  since,  upon  a 
report  that  a  large  body  of  Indians  were  close  in 
our  front,  I  ordered  the  troops  to  form  for  action, 
and  rode  along  the  line  to  inspire  them  with  confi 
dence,  and  gave  a  charge  to  those  in  the  redoubts 
which  I  had  recently  thrown  up  in  our  front,  and 
on  the  right  flank,  to  maintain  their  posts  at  any 
expense  of  blood,  until  I  could  gain  the  enemy's 
rear  with  the  dragoons ;  but  such  was  the  defect 
of  the  human  heart,  that  from  excess  of  cowardice, 
one-third  of  the  sentries  deserted  from  their  sta 
tions,  so  as  to  leave  the  most  accessible  places  un 
guarded.' 

"  By  the  salutary  measures  adopted  to  introduce 
order  and  discipline,  the  army  soon  began  to  assume 
its  proper  character.  The  troops  were  daily  exer 
cised  in  all  the  evolutions  necessary  to  render  them 
efficient  soldiers,  and  more  especially  in  those  ma 
noeuvres  proper  in  a  campaign  against  savages. 
Firing  at  a  mark  was  constantly  practised,  and 
rewards  given  to  the  best  marksmen.  To  inspire 
emulation,  the  riflemen  and  infantry  strove  to  excel, 
and  the  men  soon  attained  to  an  accuracy  that 
gave  them  confidence  in  their  own  prowess.  On 
the  artillery,  the  general  impressed  the  importance 
of  that  arm  of  the  service.  The  dragoons  he  taught 
to  rely  on  the  broadsword,  as  all  important  to  vie- 
3 


26  MEMOIR    OF 

tory.  The  riflemen  were  made  to  see  how  much 
success  must  depend  on  their  coolness,  quickness, 
and  accuracy ;  while  the  infantry  were  led  to  place 
entire  confidence  in  the  bayonet,  as  the  certain  and 
irresistible  weapon,  before  which  savages  could  not 
stand.  The  men  were  instructed  to  charge  in  open 
order ;  each  to  rely  on  himself,  and  to  prepare  for 
a  personal  contest  with  an  enemy.  The  confidence 
inspired,  and  rapid  improvement  in  discipline,  are 
frequently  mentioned  with  pleasure  in  the  letters 
of  the  commanding  general  written  during  the 
autumn ;  but  the  season  was  too  far  advanced  be 
fore  a  reasonable  force  could  be  collected  to  warrant 
active  operations."'* 

We  have  entered  into  this  detail  to  show  the 
perilous  and  unpromising  nature  of  the  service  to 
which  young  Harrison  devoted  his  youthful  ener 
gies.  It  could  not  have  been  the  desire  of  an  indo 
lent  life,  nor  the  indulgence  of  a  puerile  vanity, 
which  led  the  youthful  candidate  for  fame  into 
scenes  so  fraught  with  danger  and  hardship.  The 
service  was  neither  popular  nor  inviting.  Toilsome 
marches  in  the  wilderness,  incessant  watching, 
coarse  fare,  uncertain  supplies,  awaited  these  gal 
lant  adventurers  under  the  most  favourable  event 
of  the  campaign,  while  a  reverse  of  fortune  would 


*  Extracted  from  an  able  article  in  Atkinson's  Casket  for 
1830. 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  27 

bring  torture,  death,  or  a  cruel  captivity.  A  youth 
reared  in  affluence,  surrounded  by  friends,  and 
with  fair  hopes  in  prospect,  who  resigned  all  these 
advantages  to  serve  his  country  on  the  frontier  at 
that  gloomy  period,  must  have  been  gifted  with  a 
high  courage  and  generous  patriotism,  which  ele 
vated  him  above  the  selfish  motives  which  ordina 
rily  govern  human  conduct. 


28  MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER  III. 

Mr.  Harrison's  first  appointment — His  services 
under  St.  Clair  and  Wilkinson — Wayne's  cam 
paign. 

MR.  HARRISON  received  his  first  commission  as 
an  ensign  in  the  first  regiment  of  United  States 
artillery,  then  stationed  at  Fort  Washington,  and 
immediately  set  out  to  join  the  army.  He  arrived 
at  Fort  Washington  just  after  the  defeat  of  General 
St.  Glair's  army,  and  witnessed  the  gathering  in  at 
that  post  of  the  broken  fragments  of  that  gallant 
band,  which  had  marched  out  but  a  few  weeks 
before  in  the  pride  of  military  power,  and  now  re 
turned  a  mutilated,  disorganized,  and  panic-stricken 
corps.  The  whole  defence  of  the  frontier  now  de 
volved  on  a  few  men,  while  the  Indians,  flushed 
with  victory,  had  grown  more  audacious  than  ever. 
The  winter  was  setting  in,  and  such  were  the  hard 
ships  to  be  anticipated  by  those  who  were  destined 
to  protect  the  distant  outposts  of  the  wilderness, 
that  the  stoutest  hearts  might  have  failed,  and  the 
hardiest  veterans  have  shrunk  from  the  unequal 
contest.  Harrison,  young,  slender,  and  apparently 
frail,  was  advised  by  his  comrades  to  decline  a  ser- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  29 

vice  for  which  his  constitution  and  early  habits 
seemed  to  have  rendered  him  peculiarly  unfit.  But 
his  was  not  a  spirit  to  recoil  from  danger.  The 
same  boldness  and  energy  of  character — the  same 
prodigal  exposure  of  his  own  person  to  danger  and 
fatigue,  which  have  marked  his  conduct  through 
life,  were  displayed  at  the  commencement  of  his 
career. 

The  first  duty  confided  him  was  to  command  an 
escort  having  charge  of  a  train  of  pack-horses 
bound  for  Fort  Hamilton.  The  duty  was  difficult 
and  perilous,  requiring  great  exposure  by  night  and 
by  day,  continual  watchfulness,  and  a  greater  de 
gree  of  sagacity  than  would  ordinarily  have  been 
expected  in  a  youth  of  nineteen.  But  he  acquitted 
himself  in  a  manner  which  proved  his  abilities  to 
be  equal  to  his  spirit,  and  which  elicited  the  com 
mendations  of  General  St.  Clair. 

At  this  time  the  vice  of  intemperance  was  com 
mon  in  the  army,  and  many  promising  young  men 
fell  victims  to  the  destroyer.  The  practice  of  drink 
ing  ardent  spirits  was  universal ;  public  sentiment 
had  not  denounced  it  as  immoral,  nor  was  intoxi 
cation  considered,  as  it  now  is,  degrading  to  the 
character  of  the  gentleman.  The  hardships  to 
which  the  army  was  exposed,  and  the  privations 
which  they  often  endured  for  days  and  weeks  to 
gether,  predisposed  the  young  officers  to  excess  in 
their  moments  of  relaxation.  In  other  respects, 
3* 


30  '     MEMOIR    OF 

their  situation  exposed  them  to  the  contagion  of  bad 
habits.  They  were  cut  loose  from  the  restraints 
of  society,  from  the  genial  influence  of  domestic 
intercourse,  and  from  the  companionship  of  all 
those  who  might  have  awed  or  advised  them  to 
prudent  and  virtuous  habits.  They  were  encamped 
in  the  wilderness,  or  shut  up  in  isolated  fortresses, 
without  books  or  amusements,  and  where  the  tempt 
ations  to  gambling  and  intoxication,  assailed  them 
with  tenfold  force.  Mr.  Harrison  had  the  good 
sense  to  see  and  avoid  these  dangers  ;  and  strength- 
ened  by  the  advice  of  General  Wilkinson,  who  suc 
ceeded  General  St.  Clair  in  1792,  resisted  the 
temptation,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  those  habits 
of  temperance  which  have  adhered  to  him  through 
a  long  life,  enabled  him  to  support  the  fatigues  of 
border  warfare,  and  given  him  a  degree  of  health 
and  vigour  which  few  men  enjoy  at  his  age. 

In  1792,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieu 
tenant,  arid  in  1793  joined  the  legion  under  General 
Wayne,  who  soon  noticed  the  ardent  young  Virgi 
nian,  and  selected  him  as  one  of  his  aids-de-camp. 
In  this  honourable  post  he  served  with  credit,  and 
learned  the  art  of  war  in  a  severe  school.  He  who 
followed  the  footsteps  of  Wayne  reposed  not  on 
beds  of  down,  nor  trod  in  paths  strewed  with 
flowers. 

On  the  28th  of  November,  1792,  the  army  left 
Pittsburgh,  and  took  up  a  position  on  the  Ohio 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  31 

twenty-two  miles  below  that  place,  and  seven 
above  the  mouth  of  Beaver,  which  assumed  the 
name  of  Legionville.  Huts  were  constructed  for 
the  whole  force ;  the  general  and  his  officers  remain 
ing  in  tents  until  all  the  soldiers  were  completely 
accommodated.  The  position  was  strongly  forti 
fied,  and  every  precaution  taken  to  prevent  sur 
prise.  The  enemy  was  within  striking  distance, 
and  the  utmost  vigilance  was  necessary  to  preserve 
the  army,  to  teach  it  self-reliance,  and  to  impress 
the  foe  with  respect  for  our  arms. 

One  of  the  duties  confided  to  Wayne  by  the  sa 
gacious  Washington,  was  that  of  conciliating  the 
friendly  tribes ;  and  accordingly  an  early  invitation 
was  sent  to  Cornplanter  and  New  Arrow,  distin 
guished  chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations,  to  visit  the  com- 
mander-in-chief  at  Legionville.  They  came  in 
March  1793,  accompanied  by  Big  Tree,  and  the 
aged  Guasutha.  On  this  occasion  a  toast  was 
given  by  Cornplanter,  at  the  general's  table,  which 
showed  clearly  their  opinion  of  the  terms  upon 
which  peace  should  be  established  between  the  red 
and  white  men.  "  My  mind  and  heart  are  upon 
that  river,"  said  the  chief,  pointing  to  the  Ohio — 
"jpay  that  water  ever  continue  to  run,  and  remain 
the  boundary  of  lasting  peace  between  the  Ameri 
cans,  and  the  Indians  on  its  opposite  shore."  If 
such  was  the  language  boldly  held  in  the  presence 
of  the  representative  of  our  government,  by  the 


32  MEMOIli    OF 

chiefs  in  amity  with  us,  it  is  not  difficult  to  infer 
the  disposition  of  the  hostile  tribes.  A  permanent 
boundary,  which  should  for  ever  separate  them 
from  the  further  encroachment  of  our  people,  had 
always  been  the  natural  and  not  unreasonable  de 
sire  of  the  Indians.  The  Ohio  was  the  boundary 
now  insisted  upon  by  British  policy ;  and  in  conse 
quence  of  their  intrigues,  the  American  government 
was  required  by  the  Indians  to  relinquish  all  claims 
north  and  west  of  that  river,  although  repeated 
treaties,  and  fair  purchase,  had  transferred  to  them 
large  portions  of  the  territory,  which  had  been 
pledged  by  Congress  to  the  officers  and  soldiers 
of  the  revolution,  and  parts  of  which  were  now 
occupied  by  actual  settlers.  In  the  event  of  our 
refusal  to  comply  with  terms  so  entirely  inadmissi 
ble,  so  sternly  opposed  to  our  interest,  honour,  and 
good  faith,  a  general  and  desolating  war  was  the 
only  alternative.  These  facts  are  necessary  to  a 
distinct  understanding  of  the  subsequent  events. 
The  war  was  not  one  of  aggression  upon  our  part. 
It  was  sanctioned  by  justice,  and  impelled  by  the 
duty  of  self-defence ;  it  was  imperatively  required 
to  break  up  the  pernicious  influence  of  an  insi 
dious  European  foe,  and  to  curb  the  ferocity  of  fce 
savage. 

The  dispatches  of  Wayne  to  the  government 
soon  assumed  a  tone  of  confidence,  widely  differ 
ent  from  that  which  characterized  his  letters  from 


WILLIAM    IIEXRY    HARRISON.  33 

Pittsburgh.  The  troops  improved  rapidly  in  disci 
pline,  harmony  and  order  were  established,  military 
pride  and  zeal  were  awakened,  and  an  ardent  de 
sire  for  active  duty  animated  the  whole  legion. 
Alluding  to  this  change,  and  to  a  proposition  of 
the  government  that  commissioners  should  be  ap 
pointed  to  attempt  a  treaty  with  the  Indians,  he 
playfully  expressed  in  one  of  his  letters  a  desire  to 
be  present  at  the  proposed  convention,  "  with  2500 
of  his  commissioners,  witri  not  a  single  Quaker 
among  them  ;"  adding,  "  in  which  case  I  feel  con 
fident  an  honourable  peace  would  be  the  result." 

On  the  30th  of  April,  1793,  General  Wayne 
broke  up  his  position  at  Legionville,  and  conveyed 
his  army  in  boats  to  Fort  Washington,  an  outpost 
upon  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  city  of  Cincin 
nati.  Here  he  was  detained  by  the  orders  of  the 
government.  The  Indians  had  intimated  a  desire 
to  treat ;  and  the  government,  earnestly  intent  on 
trying  to  the  last  the  benevolent  medium  of  nego 
tiation,  deputed  General  Lincoln,  Colonel  Pickering, 
and  Beverly  Randolph,  to  meet  the  chiefs  at  San- 
dusky. 

The  accurate  writer  from  whom  we  have  already 
quoted,  describes  in  the  following  terms  the  situa 
tion  of  the  army  during  the  pendency  of  the  nego 
tiation  : 

"  Thus  restrained  from  active  operations,  General 
Wayne  devoted  himself  to  perfecting  the  prepara- 


34  MEMOIR    OF 

tions  necessary,  if  the  negotiations  should  not,  as 
he  was  fully  persuaded  they  would  not,  eventuate 
in  peace.  The  troops  were  manoauvred  and  disci 
plined — arrangements  were  adopted  for  bringing 
into  service  an  auxiliary  aid  of  mounted  volunteers 
from  Kentucky.  Vigorous  exertions  were  made  to 
insure  a  full  supply  of  provisions,  especially  at  the 
head  of  the  line  ;  for  the  commanding  general  was 
fully  impressed  with  the  importance  of  placing  the 
army  not  only  beyond*the  reach,  but  beyond  the 
apprehension,  of  want.  It  is  scarcely  possible  to 
conceive  the  difficulties  encountered  in  effecting  this 
indispensable  object ;  so  inadequate  were  the  con 
tractor's  supplies  to  accomplish  the  wishes  of  the 
commander-in-chief,  that  additional  and  effectual 
means  were  adopted  to  effect  the  purpose.  In 
truth,  from  the  moment  of  his  taking  the  com 
mand,  from  the  want  of  experienced  officers,  in 
several  departments,  it  became  necessary  for  him 
to  attend  to  them  much  in  detail.  By  the  organiza 
tion  of  the  legion,  he  was  entitled  to  the  aid  of  four 
brigadier  generals,  whereas  he  had  but  one  during 
the  greater  period  of  his  campaigns,  and  at  no  time 
more  than  two ;  one  of  whom  was  his  gallant  and 
distinguished  friend,  General  Thomas  Posey.  «His 
vigilant  eye,  however,  let  nothing  pass  without  the 
closest  inspection,  and  his  untiring  industry  and  de 
votion  were  repaid  by  the  order  and  perfection  intro 
duced  into  every  department  of  the  army."  *  *  * 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  35 

• 

"  In  the  extraordinary  situation  of  the  world,  the 
conduct  of  France,  Great  Britain,  and  Spain,  fre 
quently  influencing  events  in  which  the  army  were 
concerned,  called  for  his  animadversions,  and  they 
will  uniformly  be  found  to  be  those  of  a  statesman 
of  enlarged,  liberal,  and  correct  views,  breathing 
throughout  the  purest  patriotism." 

As  had  been  foreseen  by  General  Wayne,  the 
negotiations  failed.  The  Indians  obstinately  per 
sisted  in  demanding  that  the  Ohio  should  be  the 
established  boundary,  and  haughtily  refused  to  treat 
upon  any  other  terms.  The  government  therefore 
ordered  General  Wayne  to  commence  active  ope 
rations,  to  carry  them  forward  with  vigour,  but  by 
no  means  to  risk  a  defeat,  which,  under  existing 
circumstances,  would  have  been  "pernicious  in 
the  highest  degree  to  the  interests  of  the  country." 

Wayne  had  made  his  arrangements  in  advance 
of  these  instructions,  had  called  to  his  assistance  a 
thousand  mounted  men  from  Kentucky,  broken  up 
his  head-quarters  at  Hobson's  Choice,  near  Fort 
Washington,  and  commenced  his  march  on  the  7th 
of  October.  On  the  13th  of  the  same  month,  he 
took  a  position  six  miles  in  advance  of  Fort  Jeffer- 
sqflb  and  eighty  miles  from  Fort  Washington,  on 
the  south-west  branch  of  the  Miami.  This  was 
fortified  in  a  manner  to  render  it  impregnable  to  a 
savage  force,  and  called  Greene ville. 

In  a  dispatch  dated  23d  October,  1793,  General 


36  MEMOIR    OF 

Wayne  describes  an  attack  on  the  17th,  upon  a 
convoy  of  provisions,  consisting  of  ninety  men, 
under  Lieutenant  Lowry  and  Ensign  Boyd.  "  These 
two  gallant  young  gentlemen,  who  promised  at  a 
future  day  to  be  ornaments  to  their  profession,  to 
gether  with  thirteen  men,  non-commissioned  offi 
cers  and  privates,  bravely  fell,  after  an  obstinate 
resistance  against  superior  numbers,  being  aban 
doned  by  the  greater  part  of  the  escort  upon  the 
first  discharge."  Such  was  the  terror  inspired  by 
the  Indians,  and  such  the  difficulty  of  inducing  even 
trained  soldiers  to  face  the  imaginary  dangers  of 
the  conflict. 

About  this  time  a  band  of  Kentuckians  under 
General  Scott  joined  the  army ;  but  as  the  season 
was  too  far  advanced  for  effective  operations  iri  the 
field,  they  were  permitted  to  return. 

On  the  23d  of  December,  eight  companies  of 
infantry,  and  a  detachment  of  artillery,  under 
Major  Burbeck,  were  dispatched  to  take  possession 
of  the  field  of  battle  of  the  4th  November,  1791, 
and  to  fortify  the  position.  To  the  new  post  thus 
established  was  given  the  name  of  Fort  Recovery. 
The  following  general  order  was  issued  on  the 
return  of  the  troops  from  that  mournful  but  hi  Jjily 
interesting  expedition : — 

"  The  commander-in-chief  returns  his  most  grate 
ful  thanks  to  Major  Henry  Burbeck,  and  to  every 
officer,  non-commissioned  officer,  and  private,  be- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  87 

longing  to  the  detachment  under  his  command,  for 
their  soldierly  and  exemplary  good  conduct  during 
their  late  arduous  tour  of  duty,  and  the  cheerfulness 
with  which  they  surmounted  every  difficulty,  at 
this  inclement  season,  in  repossessing  General  St. 
Glair's  field  of  battle,  and  erecting  thereon  Fort 
Recovery,  a  work  impregnable  by  savage  force  ; 
as  also  for  piously  and  carefully  collecting  and  in 
ferring  the  bones,  and  paying  the  last  respect  and 
military  honours  to  the  remains  of  the  heroes  who 
fell  on  the  4th  of  November,  1791,  by  three  times 
three  discharges  from  the  same  artillery  that  was 
lost  on  that  fatal  day,  but  now  recovered  by  this 
detachment  of  the  legion. 

"  The  commander-in-chief  also  requests  Major 
Mills,  Captains  De  Butts  and  Butler,  Lieutenant 
Harrison,  and  Dr.  Scott,  to  accept  his  best  thanks 
for  their  voluntary  aid  and  services  on  this  occa 
sion." 

Thus  early  do  we  find  the  name  of  Harrison 
identified  with  deeds  of  patriotism  and  valour. 

The  Indian  councils  were  now  cunningly  direct 
ed.  Breathing  war  and  vengeance,  and  bent  on 
the  expulsion  of  the  whites  from  the  north-western 
territory,  they  yet  pretended  to  be  still  willing  to 
accede  to  amicable  terms ;  and  shortly  after  the 
erection  of  Fort  Recovery,  a  message  was  sent  by 
them  to  General  Wayne,  to  propose  that  negotia 
tions  should  be  opened,  for  the  adjustment  of  all 
4 


38  MEMOIR    OF 

existing  difficulties.  Fully  empowered  to  make 
peace,  or  to  prosecute  the  war,  and  satisfied  of  the 
earnest  desire  of  the  President  to  avoid  bloodshed, 
General  Wayne  felt  himself  obliged  to  meet  the 
overture  with  apparent  satisfaction,  and  to  open  a 
treaty;  while  he  was  convinced  that  the  secret 
object  of  the  enemy  was  to  gain  time,  to  lull  his 
vigilance,  and  to  reconnoitre  his  strength.  He  re 
quired  as  a  preliminary  to  any  treaty,  that  all 
American  captives  in  the  hands  of  the  Indians 
should  be  released,  and  gave  them  thirty  days  in 
which  to  do  this,  and  to  make  their  propositions. 

A  singular  occurrence  marked  this  temporary 
cessation  of  hostilities.  On  the  departure  of  the 
flag,  charged  with  the  pacific  message  of  Wayne, 
Big  Tree,  a  distinguished  Seneca  warrior,  who  had 
attached  himself  to  our  cause,  committed  suicide. 
"  I  have  lost,"  said  he,  "  a  very  dear  friend — the 
friend  of  my  heart — General  Richard  Butler."  He 
had  sworn  to  sacrifice  three  victims  to  the  manes 
of  his  friend ;  and  exasperated  at  the  idea  of  a 
peace,  which  would  defeat  his  purpose,  he  put  an 
end  to  his  existence. 

New  difficulties  accumulated  round  this  gallant 
army.  Combinations  of  persons  were  said  to  be 
formed  in  Kentucky,  for  the  purpose  of  invading 
the  Spanish  territory  on  the  lower  Mississippi ;  and 
the  governor  of  Louisiana,  to  be  prepared  for  the 
threatened  aggression,  had  advanced  within  the 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  89 

boundaries  of  the  United  States,  and  fortified  a  po 
sition  at  the  Chickasaw  bluffs.  The  spoliations 
committed  by  the  piratical  fleets  of  Great  Britain 
upon  our  commerce,  the  hostile  spirit  manifested  in 
the  whole  tone  of  the  measures  of  that  government, 
the  speech  of  Lord  Dorchester  to  the  Indians,  in 
citing  them  to  rapine,  the  refusal  to  deliver  up  the 
posts  still  maintained  in  the  wilderness  of  the  north 
western  territory, — all  contributed  to  render  a  war 
with  Great  Britain  probable.  Even  lately  a  British 
force  had  been  audaciously  thrown  into  our  terri 
tory,  and  a  fort  erected  by  them  at  the  rapids  of 
the  Miami.  To  meet  the  various  points  of  danger 
indicated  by  these  events,  General  Wayne  garri 
soned  Fort  Massac,  on  the  Ohio,  60  miles  above 
its  confluence  with  the  Mississippi,  opened  a  cor 
respondence  with  the  patriotic  governor  of  Ken 
tucky,  and  proceeded  to  crush  the  intended  irruption 
into  Louisiana,  as  well  as  to  guard  against  the 
military  movements  of  the  British. 

The  Indians  refused  to  treat,  and  active  opera 
tions  were  resumed.  Nothing  delayed  the  move 
ment  towards  the  enemy,  but  the  expected  arrival 
of  the  Kentucky  volunteers,  whose  aid  had  been 
promised. 

On  the  30th  of  June,  1794,  an  escort  of  riflemen 
and  dragoons,  under  Major  M'Mahan,  was  attacked 
under  the  guns  of  Fort  Recovery,  and  a  general 
assault  made  upon  that  post.  The  engagement 


40  MEMOIR    OF 

was  obstinate ;  the  savages,  though  several  times 
repulsed,  renewed  the  fight  with  spirit,  and  were  at 
last  defeated  with  a  considerable  loss  of  their  war 
riors.  An  auxiliary  force  of  British  soldiers,  com 
manded  by  their  proper  officers,  were  mingled 
with  the  Indians  on  this  occasion.  The  assailants 
were  about  1500  in  number;  their  loss  was  great, 
and  the  victory  over  them  triumphant  and  cheering. 
About  the  middle  of  July,  General  Scott  arrived 
from  Kentucky,  with  his  command  of  mounted  vo 
lunteers;  and  on  the  8th  of  August,  General  Wayne 
took  up  a  position  at  Grand  Glaise,  in  the  very 
heart  of  the  Indian  country,  and  70  miles  in  ad 
vance  of  Greeneville.  This  movement  was  so 
rapid,  and  was  executed  with  such  consummate 
skill,  that  had  it  not  been  for  the  desertion  of  a 
soldier,  who  conveyed  the  intelligence  to  the  Bri 
tish,  the  surprise  of  the  enemy  would  have  been 
complete,  and  their  defeat  inevitable.  By  this  bold 
and  prudent  measure,  the  army  was  established  in 
the  midst  of  extensive  Indian  settlements  which 
were  under  the  immediate  protection  of  a  British 
garrison.  In  a  letter  written  upon  this  occasion  to 
the  Secretary  of  War,  he  remarks,  "  Thus,  sir,  we 
have  gained  possession  of  the  grand  emporium  of 
the  hostile  Indians  in  the  west,  without  loss  of 
blood.  The  very  extensive  and  highly  cultivated 
fields  and  gardens  show  the  work  of  many  hands. 
The  margins  of  those  beautiful  rivers,  tho  Miami 


WILLIAM    1IEXKY    HARRISON.  41 

of  the  Lake,  and  Au  Glaise,  appear  like  one  conti 
nued  village  for  a  number  of  miles  above  and  below 
the  place ;  nor  have  I  ever  before  beheld  such  im 
mense  fields  of  corn  in  any  part  of  America,  from 
Canada  to  Florida." 

Having  erected  a  strong  work  at  the  confluence 
of  the  rivers  above  mentioned,  which  he  called 
Fort  Defiance ;  and  being  now  prepared  to  strike 
the  enemy,  he  made  a  last  attempt  at  conciliation. 
"  I  have  thought  proper,"  he  said,  "  to  offer  the 
enemy  a  last  overture  of  peace ;  and  as  they  have 
every  thing  that  is  dear  and  interesting  at  stake, 
I  have  reason  to  expect  they  will  listen  to  the  pro 
position  mentioned  in  the  inclosed  copy  of  an  ad 
dress  dispatched  yesterday  by  a  special  flag,  under 
circumstances  that  will  insure  his  safe  return,  and 
which  may  eventually  spare  the  effusion  of  much 
human  blood."  "  But  should  war  be  their  choice, 
that  blood  be  upon  their  own  heads.  America  shall 
no  longer  be  insulted  with  impunity.  To  an  all 
powerful  and  just  God,  I  therefore  commit  myself 
and  gallant  army." 

The  overture  was  rejected,  against  the  advice  of 
the  distinguished  chief  Little  Turtle,  a  man  of  great 
capacity  and  unimpeached  courage,  who,  in  a  coun 
cil  of  the  combined  Indians,  on  the  night  previous 
to  the  battle,  held  the  following  language :  "  We 
have  beaten  the  enemy  twice  under  separate  com 
manders.  We  cannot  expect  the  same  good  for- 
4* 


42  MEMOIR    OF 

tune  to  attend  us  always.  The  Americans  are 
now  led  by  a  chief  who  never  sleeps :  the  night 
and  the  day  are  alike  to  him.  And  during  all  the 
time  he  has  been  marching  upon  our  villages,  not 
withstanding  the  watchfulness  of  our  young  men, 
we  have  never  been  able  to  surprise  him.  Think 
well  of  it.  There  is  something  whispers  me  it 
would  be  prudent  to  listen  to  his  offers  of  peace." 

The  splendid  engagement  which  ensued,  is  me 
morable  as  well  from  the  consummate  skill  dis 
played  by  the  general,  and  the  valour  of  the  troops, 
as  from  the  important  consequences  that  flowed  from 
our  victory.  The  success  of  Wayne  was  owing  to 
his  vigilance,  the  high  discipline  of  his  army,  and 
the  system  of  tactics  which  he  adopted.  Abandon 
ing  the  close  order,  which  would  have  been  proper 
in  fighting  European  troops,  but  which  it  is  imprac 
ticable  to  preserve  in  thickly  wooded  grounds, 
while  it  exposes  men  in  solid  masses  to  the  uner 
ring  aim  of  the  sharp-shooting  savage, — he  adopted 
an  open  order,  which  enabled  his  ••  men  to  move  with 
more  facility  among  the  trees,  exposed  them  less  to 
the  fire  of  the  enemy,  and  extended  the  line  of 
battle,  so  as  to  defeat  the  usual  stratagem  of 
the  foe,  that  of  turning  the  flank  and  striking  at  the 
rear. 

We  cannot  describe  the  battle  itself  better  than 
by  quoting  entirely  the  official  account  of  the  com- 
mander-in-chief: 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  43 

"  HEAD  QUARTERS,  ) 

Grand  Glaize,  28th  August,  1794.  S 

"  SIR, 

"  It  is  with  infinite  pleasure  that  I  now  announce 
to  you  the  brilliant  success  of  the  federal  army 
under  my  command,  in  a  general  action  with  the 
combined  force  of  the  hostile  Indians,  and  a  consi 
derable  number  of  the  volunteers  and  militia  of 
Detroit,  on  the  20th  instant,  on  the  banks  of  the 
Miami,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  British  post  and  garri 
son,  at  the  foot  of  the  rapids. 

"  The  army  advanced  from  this  place  on  the 
15th  instant,  and  arrived  at  Roche  de  Bout  on  the 
18th;  the  19th  we  were  employed  in  making  a 
temporary  post  for  the  reception  of  our  stores  and 
baggage,  and  in  reconnoitring  the  position  of  the 
enemy,  who  were  encamped  behind  a  thick  bushy 
wood,  and  the  British  fort. 

"  At  8  o'clock  on  the  20th,  the  army  again 
advanced  in  columns,  agreeably  to  the  standing 
order  of  march ;  the  legion  on  the  right  flank,  co 
vered  by  the  Miami, — one  brigade  of  mounted  vol 
unteers  on  the  left,  under  Brigadier  General  Todd, 
and  the  other  in  the  rear,  under  Brigadier  General 
Barbee : — a  select  battalion  of  mounted  volunteers 
moved  in  front  of  the  legion,  commanded  by  Major 
Price,  who  was  directed  to  keep  sufficiently  ad 
vanced — so  as  to  give  timely  notice  for  the  troops 
to  form,  in  case  of  action — it  being  yet  undeter- 


44  MEMOIR    OF 

mined  whether  the  Indians  would  decide  for  peace 
or  war.  After  advancing  about  five  miles,  Major 
Price's  corps  received  so  severe  a  fire  from  the 
enemy,  who  were  secreted  in  the  woods  and  high 
grass,  as  to  compel  them  to  retreat. 

"  The  legion  was  immediately  formed  in  two 
lines,  principally  in  a  close,  thick  wood,  which  ex 
tended  for  miles  on  our  left;  and  for 'a  very  consi 
derable  distance  in  front,  the  ground  being  covered 
with  old  fallen  timber,  probably  occasioned  by  a 
tornado,  which  rendered  it  impracticable  for  cavalry 
to  act  with  effect,  and  afforded  the  enemy  the  most 
favourable  covert  for  their  savage  mode  of  warfare, 
they  were  formed  in  three  lines,  within  supporting 
distance  of  each  other,  and  extending  nearly  two 
miles,  at  right  angles  with  the  river. 

"  I  soon  discovered,  from  the  weight  of  the  fire, 
and  extent  of  their  lines,  that  the  enemy  were  in 
full  force  in  front,  in  possession  of  their  favourite 
ground,  and  endeavouring  to  turn  our  left  flank.  I 
therefore  gave  orders  for  the  second  line  to  advance, 
to  support  the  first,  and  directed  Major  General 
Scott  to  gain  and  turn  the  right  flank  of  the  sav 
ages,  with  the  whole  of  the  mounted  volunteers,  by 
a  circuitous  route  :  at  the  same  time  I  ordered  the 
front  line  to  advance  with  trailed  arms,  and  rouse 
the  Indians  from  their  coverts  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet ;  and,  when  up,  to  deliver  a  close  and  well 
directed  fire  on  their  backs,  followed  by  a  brisk 


WILLIAM   HENRY   HARRISON.  45 

charge,  so  as  not  to  give  them  time  to  load  again. 
I  also  ordered  Captain  Miss  Campbell,  who  com 
manded  the  legionary  cavalry,  to  turn  the  left  flank 
of  the  enemy  next  the  river,  which  afforded  a  fa 
vourable  field  for  that  corps  to  act  in. 

"  All  these  orders  were  obeyed  with  spirit  and 
promptitude ;  but  such  was  the  impetuosity  of  the 
charge  of  the  first  line  of  infantry,  that  the  Indians 
and  Canadian  militia  and  volunteers  were  driven 
from  all  their  coverts  in  so  short  a  time,  that 
although  every  exertion  was  used  by  the  officers 
of  the  second  line  of  the  legion,  and  by  Generals 
Scott,  Todd,  and  Barbee,  of  the  mounted  volun 
teers,  to  gain  their  proper  positions,  yet  but  a  part 
of  each  could  get  up  in  season  to  participate  in  the 
action ;  the  enemy  being  driven,  in  the  course  of 
one  hour,  more  than  two  miles,  through  the  thick 
woods  already  mentioned,  by  less  than  one-half 
their  numbers. 

"  From  every  account,  the  enemy  amounted  to 
two  thousand  combatants ;  the  troops  actually  en 
gaged  against  them  were  short  of  nine  hundred. 
This  horde  of  savages,  with  their  allies,  abandoned 
themselves  to  flight,  and  dispersed  with  terror  and 
dismay,  leaving  our  victorious  army  in  full  and 
quiet  possession  of  the  field  of  battle,  which  termi 
nated  under  the  influence  of  the  guns  of  the  British 
garrison,  as  you  will  observe  by  the  inclosed  cor- 


46  MEMOIR    OF 

respondence  between  Major  Campbell,  the  com 
mandant,  and  myself,  upon  the  occasion. 

"  The  bravery  and  conduct  of  every  officer  be 
longing  to  the  army,  from  the  generals  down  to 
the  ensigns,  merit  my  highest  approbation.  There 
were,  however,  some  whose  rank  and  situation 
placed  their  conduct  in  a  very  conspicuous  point 
of  view,  and  which  I  observed  with  pleasure  and 
the  most  lively  gratitude :  among  whom  I  beg  leave 
to  mention  Brigadier  General  Wilkinson,*  and  Co 
lonel  Hamtramck,  the  commandants  of  the  right 
and  left  wings  of  the  legion,  whose  brave  example 
inspired  the  troops ;  and  to  these  I  must  add  the 
names  of  my  faithful  and  gallant  aids-de-camp, 
Captains  De  Butts  and  T.  Lewis,  and  Lieutenant 
Harrison,  who,  with  the  adjutant  general,  Major 
Mills,  rendered  the  most  essential  service  by  com 
municating  my  orders  in  every  direction,  and  by 
their  conduct  and  bravery  exciting  the  troops  to 
press  for  victory.  Lieutenant  Covington,  upon 
whom  the  command  of  the  cavalry  now  devolved, 
cut  down  two  savages  with  his  own  hand,  and 
Lieutenant  Webb  one,  in  turning  the  enemy's  left 
flank. 

"The  wounds  received  by  Captains  Slough  and 
Prior,  and  Lieutenants  Campbell,  Smith  (an  extra 

*  The  gallant  and  veteran  General  Posey  was  not  in  the 
battle. 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARKISOrC.  47 

aid-de-camp  to  General  Wilkinson)  of  the  legionary 
infantry,  and  Captain  Van  Rensellaer,  of  the  dra 
goons,  and  Captain  Rawlins,  Lieutenant  M'Kenney, 
and  Ensign  Duncan,  of  the  mounted  volunteers, 
bear  honourable  testimony  of  their  bravery  and 
conduct. 

"  Captains  H.  Lewis  and  Brock,  with  their  com 
panies  of  light  infantry,  had  to  sustain  an  unequal 
fire  for  some  time,  which  they  supported  with  for 
titude.  In  fact,  every  officer  and  soldier  who  had 
an  opportunity  to  come  into  action,  displayed  that 
true  bravery  which  will  always  insure  success. 

"  And  here  permit  me  to  declare,  that  I  never 
discovered  more  true  spirit  and  anxiety  for  action 
than  appeared  to  pervade  the  whole  of  the  mounted 
volunteers ;  and  I  am  well  persuaded  that  had  the 
enemy  maintained  their  favourite  ground  but  for 
one  half  hour  longer,  they  would  have  most  severely 
felt  the  prowess  of  that  corps. 

"  But  whilst  I  pay  this  just  tribute  to  the  living, 
1  must  not  forget  the  gallant  dead  ;  among  whom 
we  have  to  lament  the  early  death  of  those  worthy 
arid  brave  officers,  Captain  Miss  Campbell  of  the 
dragoons,  and  Lieutenant  Towles  of  the  light  in 
fantry  of  the  legion,  who  fell  in  the  first  charge. 

"  Inclosed  is  a  particular  return  of  the  killed 
and  wounded — -the  loss  of  the  enemy  was  more 
than  double  that  of  the  federal  army.  The  woods 
were\  strewed  for  a  considerable  distance  with  the 


48  MEMOIR    OF 

dead  bodies  of  the  Indians,  and  their  white  auxilia 
ries  ;  the  latter  armed  with  British  muskets  and 
bayonets. 

"  We  remained  three  days  and  nights  on  the 
banks  of  the  Miami,,  in  front  of  the  field  of  battle, 
during  which  all  the  houses  and  corn-fields  were 
consumed  and  destroyed  for  a  considerable  dis 
tance,  both  above  and  below  Fort  Miami,  as  well 
as  within  pistol-shot  of  that  garrison,  who  were 
compelled  to  remain  tacit  spectators  of  this  general 
devastation  and  conflagration — among  which  were 
the  houses,  stores,  and  property  of  Colonel  M'Kee, 
the  British  Indian  agent,  and  principal  stimulator 
of  the  war  now  existing  between  the  United  States 
and  the  savages. 

"  The  army  returned  to  this  place  on  the  27th 
by  easy  marches,  laying  waste  the  villages  and 
corn-fields  for  about  fifty  miles  on  each  side  of  the 
Miami ;  there  remain  yet  a  number  of  villages,  and 
a  great  quantity  of  corn  to  be  consumed  or  de 
stroyed,  upon  Au  Glaize  and  the  Miami,  which 
will  be  effected  in  the  course  of  a  few  days.  In 
the  interim  we  shall  improve  Fort  Defiance,  and 
as  soon  as  the  escort  returns  with  the  necessary 
supplies  from  Greeneville  and  Fort  Recovery,  the 
army  will  proceed  to  the  Miami  villages,  in  order 
to  accomplish  the  object  of  the  campaign. 

"  It  is,  however,  not  improbable  that  the  enemy 
may  make  one  more  desperate  effort  against  the 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  49 

army;  as  it  is  said  that  a  reinforcement  was  hourly 
expected  at  Fort  Miami,  from  Niagara,  as  well  as 
numerous  tribes  of  Indians,  living  on  the  margins 
and  islands  of  the  lakes.  This  is  a  business  rather 
to  be  wished  for  than  dreaded,  as  long  as  the  army 
remains  in  force.  Their  numbers  will  only  tend 
to  confuse  the  savages,  and  the  victory  will  be 
more  complete  and  decisive — and  which  may  event 
ually  insure  a  permanent  and  happy  peace. 

"  Under  these  impressions,  I  have  the  honour 
to  be, 

"  Your  most  obedient, 

"  And  very  humble  servant, 

"  ANTHONY  WAYNE. 
"  The  Hon.  Major  Gen.  KNOX,     ) 
Secretary  of  War."  j 

The  reader  need  scarcely  be  informed,  that  the 
Lieutenant  Harrison  who  is  mentioned  with  such 
distinguished  honour  in  this  dispatch,  is  the  indi 
vidual  whose  biography  we  are  writing,  and  who 
subsequently  practised  with  so  much  ability  and 
success  the  military  lesson  learned  under  the  teach 
ing  of  Wayne. 

The  action  had  scarcely  terminated,  when  it  was 
announced  from  one  of  the  advanced  guards  of  the 
army,  that  a  British  officer  had  presented  himself, 
with  a  flag,  bearing  a  letter  to  General  Wayne. 
An  aid-de-camp  was  sent  to  receive  it.  It  proved 
to  be  a  communication  from  the  commandant  of 
5 


50  MEMOIR    OF 

Fort  Miami,  Colonel  Campbell,  requesting  General 
Wayne  to  inform  him  whether  he  was  to  consider 
the  American  army  as  enemies,  adding  that  he  was 
ignorant  of  the  existence  of  any  war  between  the 
King  his  master,  and  the  United  States.  General 
Wayne  replied,  that  his  motive  for  coming  there 
might  have  been  readily  inferred  by  Colonel  Camp 
bell,  from  the  firing  of  the  American  arms  in  the 
battle  that  had  just  ceased,  between  his  army  and 
the  hostile  Indians,  who,  being  defeated,  had  fled 
for  protection  to  the  fort  which  the  colonel  com 
manded  ;  and  required  of  him  to  say  by  what  au 
thority  a  British  military  post  had  been  established 
within  the  acknowledged  territories  of  the  United 
States.  To  this  Colonel  Campbell  replied,  that  he 
had  been  sent  there  by  his  superior  officer,  and 
being  there,  should  defend  the  fort  until  the  fortune 
of  war  should  oblige  him  to  surrender. 

General  Wayne  had  authority  from  the  Presi 
dent  to  take  this  fort  if  it  in  .  any  manner  impeded 
his  operations  against  the  Indians,  and  was  little 
disposed  to  suffer  the  permission  to  remain  unacted 
upon.  No  service  could  have  been  so  acceptable 
to  his  brave  battalions,  who  would  have  embraced 
with  eagerness  an  opportunity  to  avenge  the  suffer 
ings  of  their  countrymen  upon  the  real  instigators 
of  the  war.  But  that  chief,  though  popularly  called 
"  Mad  Anthony,"  was  as  cool  and  sagacious  in  his 
designs,  as  he  was  impetuous  in  their  execution.- 


WILLIAM    IIENKY    HARRISON.  51 

The  capture  of  the  fort  would  have  led  to  import 
ant  results,  into  which  it  was  not  politic  to  commit 
the  nation,  unless  the  measure  should  be  actually 
necessary  to  the  success  of  the  campaign ;  nor  did 
he  think  it  prudent  to  weaken  his  army  by  the  at 
tempt,  if  the  work  should  prove  so  strong  as  to 
require  a  great  expenditure  of  life  in  its  reduction. 
A  thorough  examination  of  the  work  was  deter 
mined  upon  ;  and  a  grand  reconnoissance  was  ac 
cordingly  made  by  the  commander-in-chief,  attend 
ed  by  all  the  staff  of  the  army,  and  escorted  by  the 
light  troops.  The  general,  attended  by  a  troop  of 
dragoons,  approached  to  a  ravine,  within  100  yards 
of  the  fort.  Here  it  was  supposed  he  would  have 
remained  ;  but  after  halting  a  few  moments  he  be 
gan  leisurely  to  ascend  the  hill  which  formed  the 
ravine,  accompanied  by  his  aids-de-camp  De  Butts 
and  Harrison.  As  soon  as  they  were  unmasked 
by  the  hill,  it  was  discovered  that  they  were  within 
50  or  60  yards  of  a  bastion  of  the  fort,  presenting 
numerous  embrasures,  out  of  which  cannon  of  the 
largest  calibre  were  protruded,  with  the  gunners 
leaning  over  them  with  lighted  portfires,  prepared 
to  fire.  The  sentinel  upon  the  salient  angle  brought 
his  piece  to  a  recover,  preparatory  to  firing.  Har 
rison  announced  the  latter  circumstance  to  the 
general,  remarking  that  he  would  immediately  be 
shot.  With  his  accustomed  coolness,  General 
Wayne  replied,  that  the  sentinel  dared  not  fire. 


52  MEMOIR    OF 

At  this  moment  General  Wilkinson,  with  his 
staff,  came  dashing  up  the  ravine  at  a  gallop ;  and 
the  British  probably  supposed  that  troops  were  ad 
vancing  to  a  charge.  A  bustle  ensued  in  the  bastion, 
and  an  officer  was  seen,  restraining  with  difficulty 
the  soldiers  from  firing.  General  Wayne  reined 
back  his  horse,  and  retired  slowly,  followed  by  the 
staff.  Before  he  reached  his  quarters,  another  letter 
was  brought  from  Colonel  Campbell,  complaining  of 
the  insulting  conduct  of  General  Wayne,  in  ap 
proaching  so  near  his  fort,  and  declaring  that  if  it 
was  repeated  he  must  fire  upon  him.  Wayne 
treated  this  as  a  ridiculous  bravado ;  but  believing 
that  the  loss  of  life  which  must  accompany  an  at 
tempt  to  carry  so  strong  a  work  by  escalade,  would 
not  be  compensated  by  the  advantage  to  be  gained, 
he  gave  up  the  idea  of  making  the  attack. 

The  haughty  spirit  of  the  Indian  tribes  was 
broken  by  the  decisive  victory  of  the  20th  of  Au 
gust.  They  were  taught  to  respect  and  fear  our 
arms,  and  to  doubt  the  power  of  Britain  to  protect 
them.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1795,  they  opened 
a  negotiation  for  peace,  by  agreeing  to  surrender 
all  captives  in  their  possession,  to  ratify  former 
treaties,  and  to  comply  generally  with  the  terms 
offered  them  by  General  Wayne ;  for  the  faithful 
performance  of  which  they  gave  hostages.  Other 
beneficial  results  ensued.  The  news  of  the  victory 
reached  London  on  the  19th  of  November,  ninety 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  53^ 

days  after  the  battle,  and  produced  such  an  impres 
sion  there,  that  the  protracted  negotiation  pending 
between  Mr.  Jay  and  Lord  Grenville,  was  brought 
to  a  conclusion  highly  advantageous  to  our  govern 
ment.  A  treaty  was  finally  held  at  Greeneville 
between  General  Wayne  and  a  numerous  repre 
sentation  of  the  Indian  tribes,  in  which  important 
concessions  were  made  to  our  government,  and  the 
Indians  were  as  much  conciliated  by  the  affability, 
moderation,  and  fairness,  of  the  American  com 
mander,  and  the  liberality  of  our  government,  as 
they  had  been  awed  by  the  prowess  of  our  troops. 
Shortly  after  the  close  of  this  campaign,  Captain 
Harrison,  though  still  retaining  his  rank  as  an  aid- 
de-camp  of  General  Wayne,  was  placed,  as  a  con 
fidential  officer,  in  command  of  Fort  Washington, 
under  circumstances  which  show  the  high  estima 
tion  in  which  his  talents  and  discretion  were  held 
by  the  commander-in-chief.  At  this  period,  certain 
agents  of  the  French  government  were  engaged  in 
a  deep-laid  intrigue  in  Kentucky,  the  object  of 
which  was  to  excite  that  gallant  people  into  a  war 
with  the"  Spanish  of  Louisiana,  and  by  thus  embroil 
ing  our  government  with  Spain,  to  force  it  into  a 
league  with  France.  Commissions  were  offered  to 
individuals,  money  and  munitions  were  promised, 
and  the  adventurous  spirits  of  the  west  were  encou 
raged  to  engage  upon  their  own  responsibility  in  a 
campaign  for  the  purpose  of  wresting  Louisiana 


V54  MEMOIR    OF 

from  the  Spaniards,  and  settling  by  the  sword  the 
long  disputed  question  of  the  right  of  the  Ameri 
cans  to  navigate  the  Mississippi.  So  alluring  was 
this  project  in  the  eyes  of  those  who  had  long  felt 
themselves  injured  by  the  insolent  and  oppressive 
demands  of  Spain,  and  whose  sterling  patriotism 
and  love  for  the  union  had  alone  induced  them  to 
suppress  their  indignation  at  the  earnest  solicitation 
of  the  President — that  now,  when  the  opportunity 
offered,  some  of  the  most  distinguished  men  of  the 
west,  were  disposed  to  engage  in  the  adventure.  It 
was  even  to  be  feared,  that  when  peace  should  be 
established  on  the  north-western  frontier,  many 
valuable  young  officers  might  be  induced  to  resign 
their  commissions,  and  seek  employment  in  this 
popular  though  unauthorized  war. 

General  Wayne,  besides  keeping  up  a  corres 
pondence  with  the  governor  of  Kentucky,  and  gar 
risoning  Fort  Massac,  placed  Captain  Harrison  at 
Fort  Washington,  with  extensive  discretionary  pow 
ers  to-be  used  as  circumstances  might  require.  He 
was,  among  other  duties,  instructed  to  keep  the 
general  advised  of  all  movements  towards  the  pro 
posed  enterprise,  and  to  prevent  the  passage  down 
the  river  of  boats  laden  with  military  stores,  belong 
ing  to  the  French  agents. 

The  British  posts  on  the  northern  frontier,  so 
long  held  in  violation  of  good  faith,  were  about 
this  time  given  up ;  and  the  troops  intended  to  oc- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  55 

cupy  them,  together  with  the  armament  and  stores, 
were  sent  to  Fort  Washington,  and  forwarded 
thence  through  the  wilderness.  Captain  Harrison 
was  the  organ  through  which  these  troops  received 
their  orders,  and  the  officer  specially  charged  with 
the  commands  and  intentions  of  the  general  in 
relation  to  the  whole  operation.  It  is  no  slight 
evidence  of  the  prudence,  ability,  and  intelligence 
of  Harrison,  that  at  an  early  age,  and  with  the 
rank  only  of  captain,  he  was  selected  by  the  dis 
criminating  Wayne  to  discharge  duties  so  import 
ant,  and  exercise  a  responsibility  so  delicate.  It  is 
enough  to  say,  that  in  this,  as  well  as  in  the  vari 
ous  subsequent  trusts  reposed  in  him  throughout  a 
long  career,  he  honourably  vindicated,  by  his  fidel 
ity  and  zeal,  the  choice  of  the  appointing  power. 

While  in  command  of  Fort  Washington,  Captain 
Harrison  married  the  lady  who  has  been  the  faith 
ful  companion  of  this  distinguished  patriot,  during 
the  various  perils  and  vicissitudes  of  his  eventful 
life,  and  lives  to  witness  the  maturity  of  his  fame, 
and  the  honours  paid  him  by  a  grateful  country. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  John  Cleves  Symmes,  the 
founder  of  the  Miami  settlements. 


56  MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Captain  Harrison  appointed  Secretary  of  the 
Territory — His  first  election  to  Congress — 
His  services  in  reference  to  the  sale  of  public 
lands. 

ON  the  death  of  General  Wayne,  in  1797,  Cap 
tain  Harrison  left  the  army,  and  received  his  first 
civil  appointment — that  of  secretary  of  the  north 
western  territory,  and,  ex  ojficio,  lieutenant-gover 
nor.  He  had  already  perilled  his  life  in  defence  of  the 
scattered  settlements  of  the  west ;  he  now  became 
identified  with  the  people  in  their  domestic  hard 
ships,  and  their  arduous  labours  in  founding  liberal 
institutions  in  the  wilderness.  They  had  difficul 
ties  to  encounter,  which  can  hardly  be  realized  by 
those  who  have  only  beheld  the  peace  and  pros 
perity  which  now  prevail  in  our  happy  country. 
Emigrating  from  distant  lands,  they  found  them 
selves  placed  in  scenes  where  every  thing  was 
new.  The  freshness  and  beauty  of  nature,  in  her 
most  fascinating  and  prolific  forms,  were  around 
them ;  but  the  elements  of  society,  law,  industry, 
and  moral  influence,  existed  only  in  a  chaos,  which 
required  wisdom  and  power  little  less  than  creative, 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  57 

to  unite  them  under  a  harmonious  system.  They 
had  settled  in  damp  forests,  where  sickness  chilled 
their  energies,  and  sometimes  swept  whole  families 
to  the  grave.  They  had  none  of  the  luxuries,  and 
few  of  the  comforts,  of  life  ;  the  supply  of  absolute 
necessaries  was  comprised  within  the  narrow  bound 
of  such  food  and  shelter  as  the  axe  and  the  rifle 
could  procure.  They  had  houses  to  build,  and 
farms  to  clear.  The  wolf  and  panther  howled 
around  them — the  venomous  serpent  was  in  their 
path — and  the  wily  Indian  crept  upon  the  sleeping 
family,  in  that  unconscious  hour  when  the  toils  of 
hard  labour  were  succeeded  by  the  repose  of  sleep. 

From  these  privations  and  toils  none  were  ex 
empt — the  farmer,  the  hunter,  the  trader,  and  the 
civil  officer,  alike  inhabited  the  log  cabin,  shared 
the  dangers  of  battle,  and  mingled  in  labours  for 
the  civil  improvement  and  political  exaltation  of 
the  growing  community.  It  was  in  this  school 
that  Mr.  Harrison  became  intimately  acquainted 
with  the  character,  the  wants,  and  the  wishes  of 
his  countrymen.  He  learned  the  lessons  of  politi 
cal  economy  out  of  the  great  volume  of  human  na 
ture.  At  the  fireside  of  the  farmer,  at  the  camp  of 
the  hunter,  at  the  frontier  fortress,  at  the  council 
of  the  governor,  at  the  festive  gatherings  of  the 
people,  he  learned  all  that  could  be  known  of  the 
true  state  of  the  country  and  its  inhabitants. 

Mr.  Harrison's  conduct  in  the  office  of  secretary, 


58  MEMOIK    OF 

and  his  popular  manners,  met  with  marked  public 
approbation  ;  and  when,  in  the  ensuing  year,  the 
north-western  territory  entered  into  the  second 
grade  of  government,  and  the  people  were  autho 
rized  to  elect  a  delegate  to  Congress,  he  was  the 
first  individual  chosen  to  fill  that  office. 

The  mode  of  disposing  of  the  public  lands,  by 
which,  except  in  peculiar  situations,  they  were 
offered  in  tracts  of  four  thousand  acres,  was  par 
ticularly  odious  to  the  people,  and  subversive  of 
their  interests,  if  not  of  their  rights.  It  was  an 
arrangement  presenting  the  most  aristocratic  fea 
tures,  and  was  calculated  alike  to  benefit  the 
wealthy  monopolist,  and  to  retard  the  settlement 
of  a  new  and  fertile  country.  At  a  period  when 
money  was  scarce,  and  when  commercial  facilities 
had  not  been  extended  to  the  region  west  of  the 
mountains,  few  individuals  could  make  even  so 
large  a  purchase  as  a  single  tract  of  that  size.  The 
actual  settlers  were  poor,  and  as  regarded  them, 
the  law  amounted  to  an  absolute  denial  of  the  ad 
vantage  of  becoming  freeholders.  The  very  men 
who  had  the  best  claim  to  the  ownership  of  the 
soil,  and  were  most  entitled  to  the  protection  of  the 
government — the  pioneer  who  had  won  the  country 
by  toil  and  peril,  the  farmer  who  was  enduring  the 
labour  of  clearing  the  soil,  the  sturdy  yeomanry 
who  formed  the  bone  and  muscle  of  the  population, 
were  precluded  from  all  possibility  of  becoming 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  59 

the  owners  of  the  homes  established  by  their  enter 
prise,  courage,  and  industry  ;  and  were  threatened 
with  the  continuance  of  a  system  which  would 
have  reduced  them  and  their  children  into  the  ten 
ants  and  vassals  of  a  few  wealthy  nabobs. 

The  grants  which  had  in  several  instances  been 
made,  of  large  tracts  in  the  western  country,  to  in 
dividuals  or  companies,  were  liable  to  a  similar 
objection.  The  direct  effect  was  to  place  extensive 
regions  of  desirable  lands  in  the  hands  of  specula 
tors,  and  to  force  the  settlers  to  become  tenants,  or 
purchasers  at  second  hand.  The  operation  of  these 
measures,  if  we  can  suppose  for  a  moment  that  the 
people  would  have  tamely  submitted  to  them,  would 
have  been  the  building  up  of  a  class  of  princely 
proprietors,  who  would  have  revelled  in  the  wealth 
earned  by  a  hard-working  tenantry.  The  injustice 
of  such  a  system  forcibly  struck  Mr.  Harrison,  and 
he  took  the  earliest  opportunity  of  exposing  its  de 
fects.  The  efficient  stand  made  by  him  on  this 
question,  pointed  him  out  to  the  people  as  the  pro 
per  individual  to  represent  them  on  the  floor  of 
Congress,  and  to  effect  a  change  in  a  system, 
which,  if  persisted  in,  would  have  been  attended 
the  most  disastrous  results.  Mr.  Harrison 


acquiesced  in  the  will  of  the  people,  and  took  hisX" 
seat  in  Congress.  m 

When  the  representative  of  the  north-western 
territory  entered  upon  his  duties,  the  Congress  was 


60  MEMOIR    OF 

distinguished  by  an  amount  of  talent  which  hag 
seldom  been  equalled,  even  in  that  body.  Among 
other  well-known  names,  those  of  Ross,  Bayard, 
Harper,  Gallatin,  Marshall,  and  Giles,  stood  pre 
eminent.  An  association  with  such  men  was  an 
admirable  school  for  the  young  delegate ;  and  his 
subsequent  course  has  proved  that  he  did  not  suifer 
the  opportunity  to  pass  unimproved.  The  friends 
he  then  made  remained  through  life,  and  many  of 
the  most  distinguished  men  in  that  Congress  saw, 
in  the  industry,  quickness,  and  enterprise  of  Mr. 
Harrison's  character,  those  qualities  which  were  to 
fit  him  for  future  usefulness.  To  the  knowledge 
which  the  general  government  then  acquired  of  Mr. 
Harrison's  capacity  for  public  business,  may  be 
fairly  imputed  the  numerous  appointments  which 
he  afterwards  received. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  Mr.  Harrison,  in  his  legis 
lative  character,  had  reference  to  a  subject  of  ab 
sorbing  interest  to  the  western  population,  and  he 
has  the  honour  of  having  led  the  way  in  that  gra 
dual  improvement  in  the  system  of  disposing  of  the 
public  domain,  which  has  led  to  the  present  equi 
table  arrangement.  After  the  ordinary  preliminary 
steps  required  by  prudence,  he  offered  a  resolution^, 
by  which  a  committee  was  raised,  with  instructions 
to  inquire  into,  and  report,  on  the  then  existing 
mode  of  selling  public  lands.  He  was  appointed 
chairman  of  that  committee,  and  it  is  believed  that 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  61 

this  is  the  only  instance  in  which  that  distinction 
has  been  conferred  upon  a  territorial  delegate. 

In  clue  time  he  made  a  report,  accompanied  by  a 
bill,  which  was  calculated  to  change  the  whole  sys 
tem,  and  the  chief  feature  of  which  was,  to  reduce 
the  size  of  the  tracts  to  a  number  of  acres  less  than 
four  thousand,  so  as  to  place  them  within  the  reach 
of  the  farmer  and  actual  settler.  It  is  difficult  to 
imagine  at  this  day,  how  a  body  so  enlightened 
could  have  hesitated  in  the  adoption  of  a  measure 
of  such  obvious  advantage  to  the  government,  and 
so  eminently  just  to  that  hardy  class  who  were  to 
endure  the  toil  of  subduing  the  wilderness,  and 
who  had  the  best  right  to  become  the  owners  of  the 
soil.  The  report  produced  a  powerful  sensation, 
and  gained  for  the  chairman  a  reputation  unexam 
pled  in  the  career  of  so  young  a  man,  and  at  his 
first  appearance  on  the  political  arena.  The  docu 
ment,  however,  was  not,  it  is  believed,  his  own  ex 
clusive  production :  the  masterly  pen  and  acute 
mind  of  Mr.  Gallatin  largely  contributed  to  it;  and 
although  the  earnest  request  of  this  able  citizen, 
and  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  moment, 
forced  Mr.  Harrison  to  submit  to  the  credit  of  being 
the  sole  author^  the  natural  ingenuousness  of  his 
character  prevented  him  from  remaining  the  subject 
of  undeserved  eulogy  an  instant  longer  than  sound 
policy  required.  As  soon  as  he  could  honestly 
relieve  himself  from  the  constraint  imposed  by  cir- 
6 


62  MEMOIR    OF 

cumstances,  he  gave  the  merit  of  the  report  to  Mr. 
Gallatin. 

However  the  fact  may  be,  the  able  and  discreet 
manner  in  which  he  conducted  the  debate,  left  no 
reason  to  suspect  the  authorship  of  the  report,  or 
the  bill.  It  was  warmly  attacked  by  Cooper,  of 
New- York,  and  by  the  eloquent  and  classic  Lee, 
of  Virginia.  Mr.  Harrison  defended  it  alone;  he 
exposed  the  folly  and  iniquity  of  the  old  system  ; 
demonstrated  that  it  could  only  result  to  the  benefit 
of  the  wealthy  monopolist  and  desperate  land-job 
ber,  while  that  species  of  population  which  has 
since  poured  into  the  fertile  plains  of  Ohio,  and 
made  it  in  forty  years  the  third  state  in  the  union, 
must  have  been  excluded  from  her  borders,  or 
taken  the  land  at  second-hand,  from  the  wealthy 
purchasers  from  the  government. 

Mr.  Harrison  was  perfect  master  of  the  subject ; 
he  had  examined  the  whole  ground,  and  his  ardent 
zeal  and  manly  eloquence  bore  down  opposition. 
The  bill  was  carried  triumphantly  through  the 
lower  house.  It  met  with  powerful  opposition  in 
the  Senate,  and  a  committee  of  conference  was 
finally  agreed  upon  between  the  two  bodies.  Messrs. 
Ross  and  Brown  acted  as  managers  on  the  part  of 
the  Senate,  and  Mr.  Gallatin  and  Mr.  Harrison  on 
the  part  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  The 
discussion  at  length  resulted  in  a  compromise,  by 
which  the  land  was  to  be  sold  in  alternate  whole 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  63 

and  half  sections,  instead  of  in  half  and  quarter 
sections,  as  proposed  in  Mr.  Harrison's  bill.  The 
point  gained,  however,  was  immense :  a  reduction 
in  the  minimum  size  of  the  tracts  from  4000  down 
to  640  and  320  acres,  was  of  incalculable  import 
ance,  and  extinguished,  in  a  great  measure,  the 
splendid  visions  of  the  wealthy  speculator.  Had 
the  bill  been  delayed  one  year,  it  is  more  than  pro 
bable  that  a  large  portion  of  Ohio  would  have  been 
sold  off  in  four  thousand  acre  tracts  to  the  capital 
ists,  to  the  exclusion  of  that  useful  class,  which  has 
since  given  the  spring  to  the  glory  and  prosperity 
of  the  state. 

Emboldened  by  his  success  in  his  first  attempt 
in  favour  of  popular  rights,  Mr.  Harrison  introduced 
a  resolution  to  change  the  mode  of  locating  military 
land-warrants.  He  exposed  in  a  forcible  manner 
the  injustice  of  the  mode  then  in  operation.  The 
House  was  again  favourable  to  his  views.  A  com 
mittee  was  authorized  to  sit  during  the  session,  who 
reported  a  bill,  which  was  passed. 

The  effect  of  these  measures  was  beneficially 
felt  throughout  the  whole  region  north-west  of  the 
Ohio,  and  is  now  seen  in  the  prosperity  of  a  million 
and  a  half  of  freemen.  Their  results  upon  the 
popularity  of  Mr.  Harrison  were  gratifying  and 
substantial.  Petitions  were  extensively  circulated 
among  the  new  settlers,  who  found  themselves 
secured  in  the  invaluable  privilege  of  becoming 


64  MEMOIR    OF 

freeholders,  requesting  the  President  to  appoint  Mr. 
Harrison  governor  of  the  north-western  territory. 
He  was  himself  the  first  to  oppose  the  object  of 
these  petitions.  With  a  delicacy  honourable  to 
himself,  and  a  respect  for  the  venerable  St.  Glair, 
which  was  due  to  that  eminent  soldier,  he  refused 
to  suffer  his  name  to  be  placed  in  competition  with 
that  of  his  venerable  friend.  But  as  the  territory 
was  about  this  time  divided,  and  that  of  Indiana 
erected,  he  accepted  in  1801  the  government  of 
the  latter. 

Thus  far  we  have  seen  this  distinguished  gentle 
man  most  honourably  engaged  in  the  service  of 
his  country.  His  bravery  and  conduct  in  the  field 
won  him  the  applause  of  Wayne,  who  was  no  in 
different  judge  of  merit ;  and  no  sooner  was  the 
war  ended,  than  he  turned  his  attention  to  civil 
pursuits.  Here  we  find  him  the  zealous  and  able 
advocate  of  the  best  interests  of  the  people,  con 
tending  fearlessly  for  their  rights.  Though  young 
and  inexperienced,  and  though  opposed  by  able 
and  veteran  statesmen,  he  did  not  shrink  from  his 
duty,  but  nobly  earned  the  title  which  has  since 
been  conferred  upon  him  by  common  consent, — 
that  of  Father  of  the  north-western  territory. 

In  politics,  Mr.  Harrison  early  identified  himself 
with  the  republican  party  ;  and  though  never  vio 
lent  or  acrimonious,  he  has  steadily  adhered  to  the 
.political  maxims  of  that  school,  and  has  always 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  65 

been  found  the  zealous  advocate  of  popular  rights. 
When  in  office,  he  has  never  shown  a  disposition 
to  grasp  at  power,  but  has  always  endeavoured  to 
ascertain  the  wishes  of  the  people,  to  comply  with 
their  instructions,  and  to  advance  their  interests. 
The  administration  that  first  appointed  him  to  civil 
office,  knew  his  devotion  to  the  principles  of  the 
revolution,  and  his  zeal  for  the  diffusion  of  the  pure 
maxims  of  democracy.  Neither  they,  their  suc 
cessors,  nor  the  people,  have  ever  had  cause  to 
repent  their  confidence  in  his  patriotism. 
6* 


66  MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER  V. 

Affairs  of  Indiana — Duties  of  Mr.  Harrison  as 
Governor,  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs, 
and  Commissioner  for  treating  with  the  Indians. 

THE  powers  conferred  on  Mr.  Harrison  as  go 
vernor  of  Indiana,  and  the  extent  of  the  territory 
confided  to  his  jurisdiction,  were  greater  than  have 
ever  been  committed  to  the  charge  of  any  citizen 
of  the  United  States,  except  himself.  Indiana  had 
the  boundaries  of  an  empire,  and  its  governor 
powers  almost  unlimited.  Ohio  having  been  strick 
en  off  with  definite  boundaries,  the  whole  of  the 
remainder  of  the  territory  of  the  United  States,  be 
yond  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  fell  within  his  juris 
diction — including  the  wide  regions  that  now  com 
pose  Indiana,  Illinois,  and  Michigan,  and  for  a  period 
of  nearly  two  years,  the  whole  of  Louisiana,  which 
was  attached  to  Indiana  on  its  purchase  in  1803, 
and  was  not  erected  into  a  separate  territory  until 
July,  1805. 

It  was  a  new  territory,  whose  institutions  were 
to  be  formed,  and  whose  prosperity  depended  on 
him  who  should  direct  its  affairs.  The  right  of 
suffrage  had  not  been  extended  to  the  people,  they 


WILLIAM    HEX11V    HARRISON.  67 

had  no  voice  in  the  election  of  officers,  or  in  the 
adoption  of  measures  for  their  own  government ; 
all  power  in  respect  to  the  territory  and  its  inhab 
itants  was  reserved  by  the  general  government, 
and  delegated  by  it  to  the  territorial  governor. 

The  task  of  governing  a  region  so  new,  and  so 
far  distant  from  the  better  settled  parts  of  our  coun 
try,  was  surrounded  with  difficulties.  The  popula 
tion  was  small  and  widely  scattered.  There  were 
but  three  principal  settlements — one  at  the  falls  of 
Ohio,  opposite  to  Louisville,  another  at  Vincennes, 
distant  from  the  first  more  than  a  hundred  miles, 
and  the  other,  including  the  French  settlements,  in 
the  tract  denominated  the  American  Bottom,  on  the 
Mississippi,  extending  from  Kaskaskia  to  Cahokia, 
two  hundred  miles  from  Vincennes ;  Detroit  was 
added  at  the  admission  of  the  state  of  Ohio  into  the 
union,  and  Louisiana  when  first  purchased — and 
numerous  other  settlements  grew  up  during  the 
administration  of  Mr.  Harrison. 

The  intermediate  country  was  in  the  possession 
of  the  Indians,  and  was  visited  by  hunters,  who 
often  became  embroiled  with  the  savages.  The 
tribes  were  restless  and  dissatisfied.  Even  while 
peace  nominally  existed,  and  during  the  short  inter 
vals  when  the  chiefs  were  disposed  to  act  in  good 
faith,  the  innate  love  of  the  Indian  for  plunder,  the 
sudden  impulse  of  revenge,  or  the  madness  of  in 
toxication,  impelled  desperate  individuals  to  the 


68  MEMOIR    OF 

perpetration  of  robbery  and  murder ;  and  during 
the  long  and  gloomy  period  which  was  only  termi 
nated  by  the  war  of  1812,  the  inhabitants  scarcely 
enjoyed  any  interval  of  security  or  repose.  The 
storm  sometimes  burst  at  one  point,  and  sometimes 
at  another ;  here  in  petty  depredations  which  were 
only  vexatious,  and  there  in  acts  of  audacious  atro 
city. 

Between  the  distant  settlements,  the  only  roads 
were  the  paths  beaten  by  the  Indians,  which  were 
not  accommodated  with  ferries  or  bridges.  There 
were,  of  course,  no  houses  of  entertainment ;  here 
and  there  an  individual  erected  a  station,  consisting 
of  a  log  house,  surrounded  by  palisades,  which 
afforded  the  only  secure  resting-places  to  travellers 
journeying  through  the  wilderness. 

The  seat  of  government  was  at  Vincennes,  a 
village  beautifully  situated  on  the  Wabash,  and 
inhabited  chiefly  by  French,  who,  although  attach 
ed  to  the  new  authority  recently  placed  over  them, 
were  entirely  unacquainted  with  our  language  and 
laws,  and  preferred  the  simple  institutions  under 
which  they  had  long  lived  at  this  isolated  spot. 

Numerous  tribes  of  Indians  inhabited  the  vast 
wilderness  lying  beyond  these  settlements.  With 
these  the  British  traders  from  Canada  carried  on 
an  extensive  and  lucrative  traffic,  to  preserve  which 
in  their  own  hands,  and  to  prevent  the  competition 
of  our  enterprising  fellow-citizens,  they  spared  no 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRI3ON.  69 

pains  to  embitter  the  minds  of  the  Indians  against 
our  people  and  government.  The  period  of  Gene 
ral  Harrison's  administration  was  that  immediately 
preceding  the  second  war  for  independence — that 
during  which  our  commerce  was  lawlessly  plun 
dered  'on  the  ocean,  our  flag  insulted,  and  our 
native  seamen  impressed  into  the  service  of  a  for 
eign  despot, — and  throughout  all  which,  a  series 
of  fruitless  negotiations  was  prosecuted  between 
our  cabinet  and  that  of  Great  Britain.  The  impla 
cable  animosity  of  that  nation,  her  deafness  to  the 
voice  of  remonstrance,  and  her  obstinate  persever 
ance  in  acts  of  oppression,  rendered  it  certain  that 
a  free  and  high-spirited  people  could  not  long  main 
tain  with  her  the  nominal  relations  of  peace,  while 
she  was  thus  practising  actual  hostility.  War  was 
inevitable;  and  our  adversary,  in  anticipation  of 
that  event,  instructed  her  agents  and  officers  on 
the  frontiers  of  Canada,  to  encourage  the  dissen 
sions  between  our  people  and  the  Indians.  The 
latter  were  accordingly  bribed  with  liberal  presents, 
furnished  with  arms  and  ammunition,  and  incited 
to  intoxication,  war,  and  plunder.  Thus  was  pre 
sented  the  singular  spectacle  of  one  civilized  go 
vernment  endeavouring  to  allure  the  savages  to  the 
arts  of  peace,  while  another  sedulously  counteracted 
the  efforts  of  humanity,  and  rolled  back,  with  a  gi 
gantic  arm,  the  progress  of  religion  and  benevo 
lence. 


70  MEMOIR    OF 

Unhappily  the  state  of  affairs  on  the  frontier 
afforded  ample  opportunities  for  carrying  forward 
this  detestable  conspiracy  against  the  interests  of 
humanity,  as  well  as  the  peace  and  advantage  of 
both  the  Americans  and  Indians.  Not  only  was 
every  plausible  cause  of  offence  magnified,  but  the 
most  benevolent  acts  of  our  government  and  peo 
ple  seized  upon  and  misrepresented.  The  efforts 
made  to  induce  the  savages  to  abstain  from  the  use 
of  spirits,  were  censured  as  arbitrary,  and  the  mis 
sionaries  who  were  sent  to  civilize  and  convert 
them,  were  denounced  as  the  instruments  of  a  pro 
ject  to  destroy  their  ancient  customs,  and  reduce 
them  to  servitude. 

In  the  organization  of  the  first  grade  of  territo 
rial  government,  it  was  provided  that  the  governor 
and  judges  should  adopt  and  publish  such  laws  of 
the  original  states,  criminal  and  civil,  as  might  be 
necessary,  and  best  suited  to  the  circumstances  of 
the  district ;  which  laws  should  be  in  force  until 
the  organization  of  a  legislature  for  the  district. 
The  legislative  power  therefore,  embracing  the  dif 
ficult  office  of  selecting  from  the  numerous  statute- 
books  of  the  different  states,  such  provisions  as  were 
suited  to  the  exigencies  of  a  young  people,  fell 
chiefly  upon  the  governor. 

All  magistrates  and  other  civil  officers,  and  all 
militia  officers  below  the  grade  of  general,  were 


WILLIAM   HENRY   HARRISON.  71 

appointed  by  the  governor ;  general  officers  in  the 
militia  were  to  be  appointed  by  Congress. 

He  was  commander-in-chief  of  the  militia. 

The  sole  power  of  dividing  the  district  into  coun 
ties  and  townships,  was  also  vested  in  the  governor. 

Besides  the  pardoning,  and  all  ordinary  powers 
incidental  to  the  office  of  governor,  he  was  the 
agent  and  representative  of  the  general  govern 
ment,  and  kept  up  a  voluminous  correspondence 
with  the  cabinet  at  Washington,  in  reference  to  the 
affairs  of  the  territory. 

Another  immense  power  was  confided  to  the 
governor  of  Indiana — that  of  confirming  grants  of 
land  to  a  numerous  class  of  individuals,  having 
certain  equitable  claims  which  are  enumerated  in 
the  law.  It  is  a  little  remarkable  that  a  power  so 
extensive,  and  so  susceptible  of  abuse,  was  placed 
in  the  hands  of  a  single  officer,  without  any  check 
or  limitation.  No  other  officer  was  required  to 
countersign,  or  to  record,  these  grants.  The  appli 
cation  was  made  to  the  governor  directly,  and  his 
signature  vested  a  title  in  the  claimant.  There 
was  no  special  formality,  or  publicity,  necessary  to 
give  validity  to  the  act.  It  might  have  been  a 
secret  proceeding  between  the  claimant  and  the 
granter,  and  yet  have  been  unquestionable  before 
any  legal  tribunal.  Yet  such  was  the  prudence  of 
Governor  Harrison,  such  his  scrupulous  attention 
to  the  public  interest,  and  his  nice  regard  for  his 


72  MEMOIH    OF 

own  honour,  that  he  has  always  been  admitted  to 
have  discharged  this  duty,  not  only  with  integrity, 
but  without  having  incurred  suspicion.  There  are 
men  who,  under  such  circumstances,  would  have 
amassed  splendid  fortunes,  by  availing  themselves 
of  the  facilities  for  speculation  thus  afforded ;  but  it 
is  a  fact  highly  creditable  to  Governor  Harrison, 
and  characteristic  of  the  disinterestedness  which 
has  marked  his  public  career,  that  he  not  only  did 
not  avail  himself  of  these  opportunities  at  the  time, 
either  directly  or  indirectly,  but  that  he  has  never 
since  taken  any  advantage  of  the  intimate  know 
ledge  of  land  titles  gained  in  his  official  capacity, 
and  has  not  to  this  day  even  owned  a  single  acre 
of  land  held  under  a  title  which  originally  emanated 
from  himself  as  the  representative  of  the  govern 
ment. 

Nor  were  these  all  the  labours  of  this  disinter 
ested  patriot  and  indefatigable  public  officer.  As 
governor,  he  was  ex  officio  superintendent  of  Indian 
affairs ;  and  Mr.  Jefferson  appointed  him  sole  com 
missioner  for  treating  with  the  Indians.  The  latter 
appointment  he  discharged  for  a  series  of  years ; 
having  the  exclusive  charge  of  this  laborious  de 
partment,  and  the  disbursement  of  the  large  sums 
of  money  appropriated  by  Congress  to  be  expended 
in  this  quarter,  in  the  purchase  of  land,  and  in  gra 
tuities  to  the  tribes.  The  success  which  crowned 
his  labours,  and  the  great  influence  which  he  ac- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  73 

quired  over  the  north-western  tribes,  folly  justified 
the  wisdom  of  this  selection.  Nearly  the  whole 
period  of  his  administration  was  a  continued  series 
of  treaties ;  and  his  efficiency  as  a  negotiator  is 
amply  proved  in  his  voluminous  correspondence 
with  the  President,  and  in  the  treaties  themselves. 
By  one  of  these  he  procured  the  extinguishment  of 
the  title  to  the  largest  tract  of  country  ever  ceded 
at  one  time  by  the  Indians,  since  the  settlement  of 
North  America.  This  cession  embraced  all  that 
territory,  from  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Wisconsin,  on  one  side,  and  from  the 
mouth  of  the  Illinois  to  the  mouth  of  Fox  river,  on 
the  other.  A  line  drawn  from  the  latter  point  to  a 
point  on  the  Wisconsin,  thirty-six  miles  above  its 
mouth,  forms  the  northern  boundary  of  the  pur 
chase,  which  embraces  fifty-one  millions  of  acres. 
When  it  is  considered  that  this  territory  comprises 
the  richest  mineral  region  in  the  union,  some  idea 
may  be  formed  of  its  value. 

In  1805,  the  territory  of  Indiana  was  erected 
into  the  second  grade  of  government.  By  this 
change,  the  people  advanced  one  step  towards  the 
assumption  of  the  republican  rights  of  suffrage  and 
self-government,  and  were  allowed  to  elect  the 
members  of  the  popular  branch  of  the  legislature ; 
the  latter  nominated  ten  persons,  out  of  whom  Con 
gress  chose  five,  who  constituted  the  less  numerous 
branch.  The  assembly  thus  organised,  appointed 
7 


74  MEMOIR    OF 

a  delegate  to  Congress,  who  was  permitted  to  speak 
in  that  body,  and  was  entrusted  with  the  manage 
ment  of  the  business  of  the  territory,  but  who,  not 
representing  a  state,  could  of  course  have  no  vote. 
The  change  was  urgently  pressed  by  Governor 
Harrison,  although  it  deprived  him  of  much  power, 
and  great  patronage,  as  it  threw  into  the  hands  of 
the  people  the  election  of  some  officers  who  had 
previously  been  appointed  by  the  executive,  and 
established  a  legislature  that  relieved  the  governor 
of  many  of  his  responsibilities. 

In  this  place  it  may  not  be  amiss  to"  mention 
an  occurrence  which  establishes  the  purity  of  Mr. 
Harrison's  administration,  while  it  reflects  high 
credit  on  his  private  character.  A  person  who 
had  become  soured  against  him,  in  consequence 
of  the  active  part  which  he  took  in  elevating  the 
territory  into  the  second  grade  of  government, 
made  some  malicious  insinuations  in  reference  to 
the  integrity  of  his  negotiations  with  certain  of  the 
Indian  tribes.  Governor  Harrison,  conceiving  it 
proper  to  have  a  full  investigation  of  the  charge, 
while  the  subject  was  fresh,  and  the  testimony 
within  his  reach,  brought  a  suit  against  the  de- 
famer,  in  the  supreme  court  of  the  territory.  In 
order  that  the  utmost  fairness  might  be  observed, 
two  of  the  judges  left  the  bench  during  the  trial ; 
one  being  the  personal  friend  of  the  governor,  and 
the  other  of  the  defendant.  An  impartial  jury  was 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  75 

impannelled,  by  a  mode  satisfactory  to  both  parties. 
The  trial  had  not  advanced  far  before  the  defend 
ant's  counsel  abandoned  their  plea  of  justification, 
and  contended  simply  for  a  mitigation  of  damages. 
The  jury,  after  an  hour's  consultation,  returned  a 
verdict  for  4000  dollars ;  an  immense  verdict  in  a 
new  country,  where  money  is  scarce,  and  where 
juries  seldom  give  heavy  damages  in  cases  of  this 
description.  The  property  of  the  defendant  was 
levied  upon,  sold,  and  in  the  absence  of  the  gover 
nor  bought  in  by  his  agent.  Two-thirds  of  the 
property  were  afterwards  returned  to  the  defendant 
by  General  Harrison,  and  the  remainder  given  to 
the  orphans  of  some  of  the  gallant  citizens  who  fell 
in  battle  during  the  last  war. 


76  MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Affairs  of  Indiana — The  Governor's  addresses  to 
the  Legislature. 

THE  speeches  of  Governor  Harrison  to  the  legis 
lature,  which  was  established  when  Indiana  came 
into  the  second  grade  of  government,  are  also  wor 
thy  of  notice.  These  embrace  all  the  topics  of 
legislation  proper  for  a  people  just  assuming  their 
political  rights,  and  preparing  for  admission  into 
the  union.  They  show  an  intimate  acquaintance 
with  the  science  of  government,  and  with  the  con 
dition  of  that  population,  and  are  characterized  by 
an  ardent  love  for  the  great  principles  of  freedom. 
They  evince  also,  that  the  office  of  governor  was 
not  a  sinecure  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Harrison,  and 
that  he  participated  largely  in  the  organization  of 
all  the  civil  institutions  of  that  state.  Many  men 
have  been  popular  governors,  whose  good  qualities 
were  all  of  a  negative  character ;  they  have  been 
respected  by  the  people  because  they  did  no  harm, 
and  beloved  by  the  members  of  the  legislature  be- 
eause  they  left  to  them  all  the  labour  and  the  credit 
of  ruling.  Mr.  Harrison  took  his  full  share  of  duty 
and  responsibility,  and  yet  was  popular. 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  77 

We  shall  make  some  quotations  from  these  docu 
ments,  for  the  purpose  of  showing  the  benign  and 
republican  spirit  in  which  Mr.  Harrison  wrote,  as 
well  as  the  ease  and  vigour  of  his  style  as  a  writer. 
The  following  is  an  extract  from  his  first  message, 
in  1805 : — 

"  Upon  a  careful  review  of  our  situation,  it  will 
be  found  that  we  have  much  cause  of  felicitation, 
whether  it  respects  our  present  enjoyments,  or  our 
future  prosperity.  An  enlightened  and  generous 
policy  has  for  ever  removed  all  cause  of  contention 
with  our  western  neighbours.  The  mighty  river 
which  separates  us  from  the  Louisianians  will 
never  be  stained  with  the  blood  of  contending  na 
tions,  but  will  prove  the  bond  of  our  union,  and 
will  convey  upon  its  bosom,  in  the  course  of  many 
thousand  miles,  the  produce  of  our  great  and  united 
empire.  The  astonished  traveller  will  behold  upon 
either  bank  a  people  governed  by  the  same  laws, 
pursuing  the  same  objects,  and  warmed  with  the 
same  love  of  liberty  and  science.  And  if,  in  the 
immense  distance,  a  small  point  should  present 
itself,  where  other  laws  and  other  manners  prevail, 
the  contrast  it  will  afford  will  serve  the  useful  pur 
pose  of  demonstrating  the  great  superiority  of  a 
republican  government,  and  how  far  the  uncon 
trolled  and  unbiassed  industry  of  freemen  excels 
the  cautious  and  measured  exertions  of  the  subjects 
of  despotic  power. 


78  MEMOIR    OF 

"  The  acquisition  of  Louisiana  will  form  an  im 
portant  epoch  in  the  history  of  our  country.  It  has 
secured  the  happiness  of  millions,  who  will  bless 
the  moment  of  their  emancipation,  and  the  gene- 
rous  policy  which  has  secured  to  them  the  rights 
of  men.  To  us  it  has  produced  immediate  and 
important  advantages.  We  are  no  longer  appre- 
Jiensive  of  waging  an  eternal  war  with  the  numer 
ous  and  warlike  tribes  of  aborigines  that  surround 
us,  and  perhaps  being  reduced  to  the  dreadful  alter 
native  of  submitting  to  their  depredations,  or  of  ex 
terminating  them  from  the  earth. 

"  By  cutting  off  their  communication  with  every 
foreign  power,  and  forcing  them  to  procure  from 
ourselves  the  arms  and  ammunition,  and  such  of 
the  European  manufactures  as  habit^has  to  them 
rendered  necessary,  we  have  not  only  secured  their 
entire  dependence,  but  the  means  of  ameliorating 
their  condition,  and  of  devoting  to  some  useful  and 
beneficial  purpose  the  ardour  and  energy  of  mind 
which  are  now  devoted  to  war  and  destruction. 
The  policy  of  the  United  States,  with  regard  to  the 
savages  within  their  territories,  forms  a  striking 
contrast  with  the  conduct  of  other  civilized  nations. 
The  measures  of  the  latter  appear  to  have  been 
well  calculated  for  the  effect  which  has  produced 
the  entire  extirpation  of  the  unhappy  people  whose 
country  they  have  usurped.  It  is  in  the  United 
States  alone  that  laws  have  been  passed,  not  only 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  79 

for  their  safety  and  protection  from  every  species 
of  injury,  but  considerable  sums  of  money  have 
been  appropriated,  and  agents  employed,  to  human 
ize  their  minds,  and  instruct  them  in  such  arts  of 
civilized  life  as  they  are  capable  of  receiving.  To 
provide  a  substitute  for  the  chase,  from  which  they 
derive  their  support,  and  which,  from  the  extension 
of  our  settlements  is  daily  becoming  more  pre 
carious,  has  been  considered  a  sacred  duty.  The 
humane  and  benevolent  intentions  of  the  govern 
ment,  however,  will  for  ever  be  defeated,  unless 
effectual  measures  be  devised  to  prevent  the  sale 
of  ardent  spirits  to  those  unhappy  people.  The  law 
which  has  been  passed  by  Congress  for  that  pur 
pose,  has  been  found  entirely  ineffectual,  because 
its  operation  has  been  construed  to  relate  to  the 
Indian  country  exclusively.  In  calling  your  atten 
tion  to  this  subject,  gentlemen,  I  am  persuaded  that 
it  is  unnecessary  to  remind  you,  that  the  article  of 
compact  makes  it  your  duty  to  attend  to  it.  The 
interests  of  your  constituents,  the  interests  of  the 
miserable  Indians,  and  your  own  feelings,  will  suf 
ficiently  urge  you  to  take  it  into  your  most  serious 
consideration,  and  provide  the  remedy  which  is  to 
save  thousands  of  our  fellow-creatures.  You  are 
witnesses  to  the  abuses;  you  have  seen  our  towns 
crowded  with  furious  and  drunken  savages,  our 
streets  flowing  with  their  blood,  their  arms  and 
clothing  bartered  for  the  liquor  that  destroys  them, 


80  MEMOIR    OF 

and  their  miserable  women  and  children  enduring 
all  the  extremities  of  cold  and  hunger.  So  destruc 
tive  has  the  progress  of  intemperance  been  among 
them,  that  whole  villages  have  been  swept  away. 
A  miserable  remnant  is  all  that  remains,  to  mark 
the  names  and  situation  of  many  numerous  and 
warlike  tribes.  In  the  energetic  language  of  one 
of  their  orators,  it  is  a  dreadful  conflagration,  which 
spreads  misery  and  desolation  through  their  coun 
try,  and  threatens  the  annihilation  of  the  whole 
race.  Is  it  then  to  be  admitted  as  a  political 
axiom,  that  the  neighbourhood  of  a  civilized  nation 
is  incompatible  with  the  existence  of  savages  ?  Are 
the  blessings  of  our  republican  government  only  to 
be  felt  by  ourselves  ?  And  are  the  natives  of  North 
America  to  experience  the  same  fate  with  their 
brethren  of  the  southern  continent?  It  is  with  you, 
gentlemen,  to  divert  from  those  children  of  nature 
the  ruin  that  hangs  over  them.  Nor  can  I  believe 
that  the  time  will  be  considered  misspent,  which  is 
devoted  to  an  object  so  consistent  with  the  spirit 
of  Christianity,  and  with  the  principles  of  republic- 


"  By  a  compact  which  is  coeval  with  the  estab 
lishment  of  government  north-west  of  the  Ohio,- 
the  right  of  being  admitted,  as  soon  as  our  popula 
tion  will  justify,  into  the  great  family  which  com* 
poses  the  American  union,  is  firmly  secimd  to  us. ' 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  81 

The  following  extracts  are  taken  from  a  speech 
delivered  to  the  legislature  in  August,  1807  : — 

"  I  have  directed  the  auditor  to  lay  before  you, 
gentlemen,  a  statement  of  the  causes  which  have 
produced  the  embarrassments  in  the  collection  of 
the  taxes  for  the  present  year,  which  will  enable 
you  to  determine  more  correctly  on  the  remedy  to 
be  applied,  An  amendatory  act  to  the  one  which 
is  now  in  force,  may  answer  for  the  present ;  but 
nothing  less,  in  my  opinion,  than  a  total  change  of 
the  system,  will  save  us  in  future  from  the  disa 
greeable  consequences  of  a  deficient  revenue,  and 
an  empty  treasury.  The  defects  in  the  present 
system  were  early  foreseen ;  and  at  the  opening  of 
the  last  session,  I  strongly  recommended  to  the  two 
houses  the  adoption  of  a  different  plan.  The  com 
bination  of  so  many  circumstances,  such  as  this 
law  requires,  must  always  render  the  execution  of 
it  uncertain  and  precarious.  It  appears  to  me  also, 
that  it  is  bottomed  on  an  improper  principle.  The 
quantum  and  the  ratio  of  the  tax  should  be  fixed  by 
the  legislature  alone,  and  not  by  an  executive  offi 
cer.  This  important  subject,  gentlemen,  claims 
your  earliest  attention.  It  will  require  the  exercise 
of  much  industry  and  patience,  to  remedy  the  evils 
which  have  arisen  from  the  present  unfortunate 
system,  and  to  provide  one  which  shall  give  cer 
tainty  and  stability  to  your  revenue.  In  affairs  of 
this  kind,  experience  is  the  best  guide  that  the 


82  MEMOIR    OF 

legislator  can  follow.  He  will  seek  out  cases  that 
are  parallel  to  the  one  on  which  he  is  called  to  act, 
and  will  thus  possess  himself  of  sure  landmarks  to 
guide  him  to  his  object.  In  the  present  instance, 
there  is  no  necessity  for  a  recurrence  to  foreign  or 
distant  examples ;  the  neighbouring  states  afford 
precisely  what  we  seek — a  people  similar  in  man 
ners,  in  habits,  and  in  the  state  of  information, 
raising  their  revenue  from  the  same  objects.  Not 
withstanding  the  embarrassments  which  have  hith 
erto  attended  our  financial  operations,  there  is  one 
consolatory  circumstance  which  has  been  fully 
established  :  that  a  revenue  equal  to  all  our  neces 
sities  can  be  raised ;  and  that  too  without  oppression 
or  inconvenience  to  the  people." 

After  some  remarks  relative  to  the  law  for  regu 
lating  marriage  licenses,  the  governor  proceeds : — 

"  Connected  in  some  measure  with  this  subject, 
is  the  law  authorizing  the  general  and  circuit  courts 
to  grant  divorces.  The  propriety  and  policy  of 
a  law  of  this  kind  have  been  strongly  contested  in 
many  parts  of  the  United  States ;  and  it  is  believed 
that  the  principle  has  been  everywhere  condemned, 
save  in  one  or  two  states  only.  It  cannot  be  denied 
that  the  success  of  one  applicant  for  a  divorce,  has 
always  the  effect  of  producing  others,  and  that  the 
advantages  which  a  few  individuals  may  derive 
from  the  dissolution  of  this  solemn  contract,  are 
too  dearly  purchased  by  its  injurious  effects  upon 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  83 

tne  morals  of  the  community.  The  scenes  which 
are  frequently  exhibited  in  trials  of  this  kind,  are 
shocking  to  humanity.  The  ties  of  consanguinity 
and  nature  are  loosened — the  child  is  brought  to 
give  testimony  against  his  parent — confidence  and 
affection  are  destroyed — family  secrets  disclosed — 
and  human  nature  is  exhibited  in  its  worst  colours. 
In  the  time  of  the  Roman  republic,  divorces  might 
be  obtained  by  a  summary  and  easy  process  ;  but 
so  great  was  the  abhorrence  of  them  amongst  that 
enlightened  people,  that  in  a  period  of  five  hundred 
years,  but  one  person  had  been  found  to  take  ad 
vantage  of  the  privilege  which  the  law  allowed. 
But  when  their  manners  became  corrupted  by  lux 
ury,  divorces  became  so  common  that  applications 
were  frequently  made  to  the  college  of  augurs,  to 
ascertain  the  father  of  a  child  born  in  legal  wed 
lock.  A  few  years  ago,  there  were  but  two  in 
stances  on  record,  in  the  state  of  Virginia,  of  appli 
cations  for  divorce.  One  only  of  these  had  been  suc 
cessful  ;  and  although  that  was  acknowledged  to  be 
a  case  which  had  as  strong  claims  to  indulgence  as 
any  that  could  happen,  it  was,  nevertheless,  opposed 
by  some  of  the  most  enlightened  patriots  of  that 
slate,  upon  the  principle  that  it  was  better  for  an 
individual  to  suffer  some  inconvenience,  than  that 
an  example  should  be  established,  so  injurious,  as 
they  supposed,  to  the  morals  of  the  community." 


84  MEMOIR    OF 

"  It  is  probable,  gentlemen,  that  the  moment  is 
not  far  distant  when  every  capable  man  will  be 
called  on  to  assume  the  character  of  a  soldier.  The 
situation  of  our  affairs  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  as  well 
as  on  this  frontier,  makes  it  necessary  that  there 
should  be  no  delay  in  preparing  ourselves  for  the 
worst  that  may  happen.  A  restless  and  dissatisfied, 
disposition  has  manifested  itself  amongst  some  of 
the  neighbouring  tribes,  and  a  few  individuals  are 
believed  to  be  decidedly  hostile.  It  gives  me  plea 
sure,  however,  to  state  that  I  have,  within  a  few 
days,  received  from  two  of  the  tribes  the  most  posi 
tive  assurances  of  friendship,  and  their  unalterable 
determination  to  submit  themselves  entirely  to  my 
direction.  These  assurances,  though  in  my  opinion 
sincere,  ought  not  to  be  relied  upon ;  and  the  pre 
parations  for  defence  ought  still  to  go  on,  until  the 
real  disposition  of  all  the  tribes  is  perfectly  ascer 
tained.  Although  the  agency  of  a  foreign  power, 
in  producing  the  discontents  among  the  Indians, 
cannot  be  questioned,  I  am  persuaded  that  the 
utmost  endeavours  to  induce  them  to  take  up  arms 
would  be  unavailing,  if  one  only,  of  the  many  per 
sons  who  have  committed  murders  on  their  people, 
could  be  brought  to  punishment.  Whilst  we  rigor 
ously  exact  of  them  the  delivery  of  every  murderer 
of  a  white  man,  the  neglect  on  our  part  to  punish 
similar  offences  committed  on  them,  forms  a  strong 
and  just  ground  of  complaint,  for  which  I  can  offer 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  85 

no  excuse  or  palliation.  A  powerful  nation  render 
ing  justice  to  a  petty  tribe  of  savages,  is  a  sublime 
spectacle,  worthy  of  a  great  republic,  and  worthy 
of  a  people  who  have  shown  themselves  as  valiant 
in  war,  as  in  peace  moderate  and  forbearing.  I  do 
not  know,  gentlemen,  whether  it  will  be  in  your 
power  to  remedy  the  evil  complained  of,  as  the 
defect  seems  to  be  not  so  much  in  the  laws  as  in 
their  execution.  But  if  any  means  can  be  adopted, 
which  would  insure  the  execution  of  justice  in  cases 
in  which  the  Indians  are  concerned,  the  measure 
would  reflect  honour  on  yourselves,  and  be  of  un 
doubted  advantage  to  your  country." 

***** 

The  following  extracts  are  from  a  speech  deli 
vered  in  1809 : — 

"  Presenting,  as  we  do,  a  very  extended  frontier 
to  numerous  and  warlike  tribes  of  the  aborigines,  the 
state  of  our  relations  with  them  must  always  form 
an  important  and  interesting  feature  in  our  local 
politics.  It  is  with  regret  that  I  have  to  inform 
you  that  the  harmony  and  good  understanding 
which  it  is  so  much  our  interest  to  cultivate  with 
those  our  neighbours,  have  for  some  time  past  ex 
perienced  a  considerable  interruption,  and  that  we 
have  indeed  been  threatened  with  hostilities  by  a 
combination  formed  under  the  auspices  of  a  bold 
adventurer,  who  pretended  to  act  under  the  imme 
diate  inspiration  of  the  Deity.  His  character  as  a 
8 


86  MEMOIR    OF 

prophet  would  not,  however,  have  given  him  any 
very  dangerous  influence,  if  he  had  not  been  as 
sisted  by  the  intrigues  and  advice  of  foreign  agents, 
and  other  disaffected  persons,  who  have  for  years 
omitted  no  opportunity  of  counteracting  the  "mea 
sures  of  the  government  with  regard  to  the  Indians, 
and  filling  their  naturally  jealous  minds  with  sus 
picions  of  the  justice  and  integrity  of  our  views 
towards  them. 

"  The  circumstance  which  was  laid  hold  of  to 
encourage  disaffection,  on  a  late  occasion,  was  the 
treaty  made  by  me  at  Fort  Wayne  in  the  autumn 
of  the  last  year.  Amongst  the  difficulties  which 
were  to  be  encountered,  to  obtain  those  extinguish 
ments  of  title  which  have  proved  so  beneficial  to  the 
treasury  of  the  United  States,  and  so  necessary,  as 
the  means  of  increasing  the  population  of  the  terri 
tory,  the  most  formidable  was  that  of  ascertaining 
the  tribes  which  were  to  be  admitted  as  parties  to 
the  treaties.  The  subject  was  accordingly  discussed 
in  a  long  correspondence  between  the  government 
and  myself,  and  the  principles  which  were  finally 
adopted,  were  made  as  liberal  towards  the  Iridians 
as  a  due  regard  to  the  interests  of  the  United  States 
would  permit.  Of  the  tribes  which  had  formed  the 
confederacy  in  the  war  which  was  terminated  by 
the  peace  of  Greeneville,  some  were  residents  upon 
the  lands  which  were  in  the  possession  of  their 
forefathers,  at  the  time  that  the  first  settlements 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  87 

were  made  in  America  by  white  people,  whilst 
others  were  emigrants  from  distant  parts  of  the 
country,  and  had  no  other  claim  to  the  tracts  they 
occupied,  than  what  a  few  years'  residence,  by  the 
tacit  consent  of  the  real  owners,  could  give.  Upon 
common  and  general  principles,  the  transfer  of  the 
title  of  the  former  description  would  have  been 
sufficient  to  vest  in  the  purchaser  the  legal  right  to 
lands  so  situated.  But  in  all  its  transactions  with 
the  Indians,  our  government  have  not  been  content 
with  doing  that  which  was  just  only.  Its  savage 
neighbours  have,  on  all  occasions,  experienced  its 
liberality  and  benevolence.  Upon  this  principle, 
in  several  of  the  treaties  which  have  been  made, 
several  tribes  have  been  admitted  to  a  participation 
of  their  benefits,  who  had  no  title  to  the  land  ceded, 
merely  because  they  had  been  accustomed  to  hunt 
upon,  and  derive  part  of  their  support  from  them. 
For  this  reason,  and  to  prevent  the  Miamis,  who 
were  the  real  owners  of  the  land,  from  experiencing 
any  ill  effects  from  their  resentment,  the  Delawares, 
Potawatamies,  and  Kickapoos,  were  made  parties 
to  the  late  treaty  at  Fort  Wayne.  No  other  tribe 
was  admitted,  because  it  never  had  been  suggested 
that  any  other  could  plead  even  the  title  of  use  or 
occupancy  of  the  lands,  which  at  that  time  were 
conveyed  to  the  United  States. 

"  It  was  not  until  eight  months  after  the  conclu 
sion  of  the  treaty,  and  after  his  design  of  forming 


98  MEMOIR    OF 

a  hostile  combination  against  the  United  States  had 
been  discovered  and  defeated,  that  the  pretensions 
of  the  prophet,  with  regard  to  the  lands  in  question, 
were  made  known*  A  furious  clamour  was  then 
raised  by  the  foreign  agents  among  us,  and  other 
disaffected  persons,  against  the  policy  which  had 
excluded  from  the  treaty  this  great  and  influential 
character,  as  he  was  termed;  and  the  doing  so, 
expressly  attributed  to  personal  ill-will  on  the  part 
of  the  negotiator.  No  such  ill-will  did  in  fact  exist. 
I  accuse  myself,  indeed,  of  an  error,  in  the  patron 
age  and  support  which  I  afforded  him  upon  his  first 
arrival  on  the  Wabash,  before  his  hostility  to  the 
United  States  had  been  developed ;  but  on  no  prin 
ciple  of  propriety  or  policy  could  he  have  been 
made  a  party  to  the  treaty.  The  personage  called 
the  prophet  is  not  a  chief  of  the  tribe  to  which  he 
belongs,  but  an  outcast  from  it,  rejected  and  hated 
by  the  real  chiefs,  the  principal  of  whom  was  pre 
sent  at  the  treaty,  and  not  only  disclaimed  on  the 
part  of  his  tribe  any  title  to  the  lands  ceded,  but 
used  his  personal  influence  with  the  chiefs  of  other 
tribes  to  effect  the  cession. 

"  As  soon  as  I  was  informed  that  his  dissatisfac 
tion  at  the  treaty  was  assigned  as  the  cause  of  the 
hostile  attitude  which  the  prophet  had  assumed,  I 
sent  to  inform  him,  that  whatever  claims  he  might 
have  to  the  lands  which  had  been  purchased  for 
the  United  States,  were  not  in  the  least  affected  by 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  89 

that  purchase;  that  he  might  come  forward  and 
exhibit  his  pretensions,  and  if  they  were  really 
found  to  be  just  or  equitable,  the  lands  would  be 
restored,  or  an  ample  equivalent  given  for  them. 
His  brother  was  deputed,  and  sent  to  me  for  that 
purpose ;  but  far  from  being  able  to  show  any  co 
lour  of  claim,  either  for  himself  or  any  of  his  fol 
lowers,  his  objections  to  the  treaty  were  confined 
to  the  assertion,  that  all  the  lands  upon  the  conti 
nent  were  the  common  property  of  all  the  tribes, 
and  that  no  sale  of  any  part  of  it  could  be  valid, 
without  the  consent  of  all.  A  proposition  so  ex 
tremely  absurd,  and  which  would  for  ever  prevent 
any  further  purchase  of  lands  by  the  United  States, 
could  receive  no  countenance  from  any  friend  of 
his  country.  He  had,  however,  the  insolence  to 
declare,  that  by  the  acknowledgment  of  that  prin 
ciple  alone  could  the  effects  of  his  resentment  be 
avoided."  *  *  *  "I  have  been  thus  particu 
lar,  gentlemen,  in  giving  you  information  upon  the 
present  state  of  our  affairs  with  the  neighbouring 
Indians,  that  you  may  have  them  fully  before  you, 
in  case  you  should  think  proper  to  make  them  in 
any  shape  the  subject  of  your  deliberation*.  Al 
though  the  management  of  the  Indian  affairs,  in 
relation  to  their  character  as  an  independent  peo 
ple,  and  our  trade  with  them  in  their  own  country, 
is  entirely  and  exclusively  under  the  control  of  the 
United  States,  it  has  been  determined  that  the  regu- 
8* 


90  MEMOIR    OF 

lations  for  the  government  of  the  latter,  are  of  no 
force  in  our  settlements.  Every  person  has  been 
allowed  to  trade  with  them  that  pleases,  which 
proves  a  source  of  numberless  abuses,  of  mischiev 
ous  effect  both  to  the  Indians  and  ourselves." 

"  Should  you  think  proper  to  pass  a  law,  either 
prohibiting  the  trade  of  Indians  within  our  settle 
ments  altogether,  or  confining  it  to  the  frontiers, 
and  obliging  those  who  follow  it  to  take  out  licenses, 
I  am  persuaded  that  your  constituents  would  re 
ceive  much  benefit.  It  will  be  worthy  of  your  con 
sideration,  also,  whether  some  penalty  might  not 
be  advantageously  imposed  upon  those  who,  by 
improper  interference,  and  by  circulating  false 
hoods  among  the  Indians,  counteract  the  intentions 
of  the  government,  and  lay  the  foundation  for  dis 
trust  and  enmity  which  may  produce  the  most 
serious  consequences."  *  *  *  "Although  much 
has  been  done  towards  the  extinguishment  of  In 
dian  titles  in  the  territory,  much  still  remains  to  be 
done.  We  have  not  sufficient  space  to  form  a  tole 
rable  state.  The  eastern  settlements  are  separated 
from  the  western  by  a  considerable  extent  of  Indian 
lands,  and  the  most  fertile  tracts  that  are  within 
our  territorial  bounds,  are  still  their  property. 
Almost  entirely  divested  of  the  game  from  which 
they  have  drawn  their  subsistence,  it  has  become 
of  little  use  to  them ;  and  it  was  the  intention  of 
the  government  to  substitute  for  the  precarious  and 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  91 

scanty  supplies  that  the  chase   affords,  the  more 
certain  support  which  is  derived  from  agriculture, 
and  the  rearing  of  domestic  animals.     By  the  con 
siderate  and  sensible  amongst  them,  this  plan  is 
considered  the  only  one  which  will  save  them  from 
utter  extirpation.  But  a  most  formidable  opposition 
has  been  raised   to  it  by  the  warriors,  who  will 
never   agree   to   abandon   their   old   habits,   until 
driven  to  it  by  absolute  necessity.     As  long  as  a 
deer  is  to  be  found  in  their  forests,  they  will  conti 
nue  to  hunt ;  it  has  therefore  been  supposed,  that 
the  confining  them  to  narrow  limits  was  the  only 
means  of  producing  this  highly  desirable  change, 
and  averting  the  destiny  which  seems  to  impend 
over  them.     Are  then  those  extinguishments   of 
native  title,  which  are  at  once  so  beneficial  to  the 
Indians,  the  territory,  and  the  United  States,  to  be 
suspended  upon  account  of  the  intrigues  of  a  few 
individuals  ?  Is  one  of  the  fairest  portions  of  the 
globe  to  remain  in  a  state  of  nature,  the  haunt  of 
a  few  wretched  savages,  when  it  seems  destined 
by  the  Creator  to  give  support  to  a  large  popula 
tion,  and  to  be  the  seat  of  civilization,  of  science, 
and  true  religion  ?     It  may  perhaps  be  asked,  how 
these  effects  can  be  produced  by  a  few  persons, 
whose  opportunities  of  intercourse  with  the  Indians 
are  so  very  limited.     Nothing  is  more  easy  than 
to  excite  jealousy  and  suspicion  in  savages,  and  to 
make  them  believe  they  are  imposed  upon ;  and  on 


92  MEMOIR    OF 

no  subject  are  their  passions  more  easily  raised, 
than  on  that  of  their  lands.  Every  treaty  that  has 
been  made  with  them  has  proved  a  work  of  diffi 
culty;  besides  their  natural  prejudices,  the  clashing 
interests  of  several  tribes  were  to  be  accommodated 
— the  injuries  which  they  have  received  from  the 
white  people  palliated  and  excused,  and  their  fears, 
excited  by  seeing  so  many  tribes  driven  from 
their  ancient  seats  by  the  progress  of  our  settle 
ments,  lulled  or  diverted  by  the  opening  of  bright 
er  prospects,  as  the  reward  of  their  fidelity.  A 
single  artful  or  imprudent  observation,  from  a  de 
signing  or  careless  individual,  is  frequently  sufficient 
to  destroy  the  labour  of  weeks,  and  to  induce  the 
Indians  to  abandon  an  intention  which  they  seemed 
to  have  adopted  after  the  maturest  consideration."* 
The  limited  size  of  our  volume  will  not  permit 
us  to  multiply  these  extracts ;  yet  it  would  not  be 
difficult  to  select  a  variety  of  passages  from  the 
speeches  of  Governor  Harrison,  equally  creditable 
to  his  feelings  and  his  sagacity.  The  whole  tenour 
of  his  official  communications  shows  a  mind  culti 
vated  by  study  and  reflection,  an  ardent  zeal  for 
the  public  service,  and  an  enlightened  benevolence 
towards  all  who  came  under  his  jurisdiction.  His 
repeated  admonitions  to  the  legislature,  and  to  the 
people,  to  render  strict  justice  to  the  Indians,  are 
worthy  of  especial  notice.  He  never  adopted 

*  Dawson's  Life  of  Harrison, 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  93 

towards  the  unfortunate  savages  the  reckless  poli 
cy  that  tended  to  their  extermination,  or  the  callous 
inhumanity  that  was  regardless  of  their  rights.  He 
met  their  chiefs  with  the  dignity  and  the  kindness 
that  became  his  station  as  the  high  functionary  of 
a  civilized  government ;  he  heard  their  complaints 
with  patience,  and  replied  to  them  in  the  language 
of  conciliation ;  while  he  laboriously  endeavoured 
to  impress  on  his  own  people  the  observance  of 
justice  and  humanity.  During  his  long  adminis 
tration,  though  continually  harassed  by  the  jealousy, 
the  vindictiveness,  and  the  treachery  of  the  Indians, 
there  is  no  instance  of  a  passionate  act  of  revenge 
on  his  part.  He  was  always  calm,  moderate,  and 
forbearing.  Though  dauntless  and  decisive  when 
called  to  the  field,  he  was  merciful  and  considerate 
as  a  civil  magistrate. 

Nor  did  he  neglect  any  of  the  various  civil  duties 
which  were  confided  to  his  care.  All  the  depart 
ments  of  the  government  were  modelled  under  his 
direction  ;  and  in  his  communications  to  the  legisla 
ture,  the  various  subjects  of  legislation  are  freely 
discussed.  His  speeches  are  frank  and  manly; 
and  he  writes  with  the  ease,  correctness,  and  pre 
cision  of  one  who  was  accustomed  to  think  with 
clearness,  and  who  possessed  in  a  high  degree  the. 
faculty  of  fluent  expression.  Few  of  our  public 
documents  will  be  found  to  be  couched  in  better 
language  than  those  of  Governor  Harrison. 


94  MEMOIR   OF 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Intrigues  of  Tecumthe  and  the  Prophet — State 
of  the  frontier — Machinations  of  the  British 
agents — Popularity  of  Mr>  Harrison. 

IN  the  year  1806,  the  celebrated  impostor  Ol-li- 
vva-chi-ca,  the  prophet,  called  by  some  writers, 
from  what  authority  we  know  not,  Els-kwa-taw-a, 
and  his  distinguished  brother  Tecumthe,  began  to 
disturb  the  frontier  of  Indiana,  by  a  series  of  in 
trigues  which  produced  the  most  calamitous  results. 
Tecumthe  had  matured  a  plan,  suggested  to  him,  as 
is  said,  by  the  celebrated  Red  Jacket, — a  plan 
which  the  great  Pontiac  had  attempted  in  vain,  and 
which  Little  Turtle,  another  lofty  spirit,  was  sup 
posed  to  have  favoured — to  unite  all  the  western 
tribes  in  a  league  against  the  white  people,  under 
the  vain  expectation  that  the  combined  Indian  force 
would  be  sufficient  to  destroy  all  the  western  set 
tlements,  and  drive  the  whites  out  of  the  great  val 
ley  of  the  Mississippi.  To  effect  this  object,  that 
crafty  and  daring  warrior  traversed  the  whole 
frontier,  visited  the  different  tribes,  appealed  ear 
nestly  to  their  prejudices,  stirred  up  the  recollection 
of  their  wrongs,  and  exerted  upon  them  the  subtle 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  95 

diplomacy,  and  masterly  eloquence,  in  both  which 
he  was  so  consummately  skilled. 

The  two  brothers,  who  were  born  at  the  same 
birth,  differed  widely  in  character,  but  were  well 
fitted  to  act  together  in  the  prosecution  of  such  an 
enterprise.  The  Indian  name  of  the  prophet  signi 
fied  literally  " a  door  opened"  in  allusion  proba 
bly  to  the  way  of  deliverance  he  was  expected  to 
point  out  to  the  red  men ;  while  the  interpretation 
of  the  word  Tecumthe  is,  "  a  panther  crouching." 

Tecumthe  was  a  daring  and  sagacious  man — a 
shrewd  and  fluent  orator,  an  able  military  chief, 
and  a  successful  negotiator.  He  was  full  of  enthu 
siasm,  and  fertile  of  expedient.  He  possessed  an 
intuitive  hatred  towards  the  white  men,  against 
whom  he  had  sworn  eternal  vengeance,  and  with 
whom  he  held  himself  bound  to  observe  no  mea 
sures  of  conciliation,  until  the  purposes  to  which  he 
had  devoted  himself  should  be  accomplished.  Pecu 
liarly  gifted  in  that  kind  of  tact  which  distinguishes 
the  artful  demagogue,  he  appealed  successfully  to 
the  people — touched  artfully  upon  topics  which 
awakened  the  vanity,  the  hatred,  or  the  love  of 
plunder  of  the  Indian;  and  although  the  chiefs 
held  back  from  motives  of  policy,  and  the  old  men 
paused  at  the  prospect  of  a  warfare  wnich  would 
cut  off  their  annuities,  and  expose  them  to  the  ven 
geance  of  a  powerful  nation,  the  younger  warriors 
panted  to  follow  him  to  the  spoil  of  the  white  man. 


96  MEMOIR    OF 

The  daring  and  improvident,  the  indolent,  the 
thoughtless,  and  the  intemperate — all  the  loose 
elements  of  society  in  the  native  villages — those 
who  were  careless  of  consequences,  and  to  whom 
no  change  could  be  productive  of  injury — these 
were  especially  the  minds  to  which  Tecumthe 
addressed  himself;  while  to  the  more  prudent  class 
he  used  arguments  which  at  least  won  their  respect, 
and  in  some  measure  disarmed  opposition. 

The  prophet  possessed  none  of  the  manly  quali 
ties  of  Tecumthe.  He  had  no  name  in  war,  and 
was  an  indifferent  hunter.  He  was  crafty,  cruel, 
pusillanimous,  and  haughty.  He  was  also  lazy  and 
sensual,  and,  under  various  pretexts,  obtained  a 
livelihood  by  extorting  supplies  of  food  and  other 
necessaries  from  the  Indians.  A  variety  of  acci 
dental  circumstances  gave  him  an  ascendancy  over 
the  Indians,  which  his  own  talents  could  not  have 
earned — the  condition  of  the  frontier,  the  supersti 
tion  of  the  savages,  and  the  powerful  protection  of 
Tecumthe,  who  affected  to  treat  his  brother  as  a 
superior  being. 

The  superior  mind  of  Tecumthe  had  obtained  a 
complete  mastery  over  that  of  the  prophet;  and 
when  in  council  together,  the  latter  never  spoke. 
He  was,  however,  a  better  speaker  than  Tecumthe, 
and  his  manner  is  said  to  have  been  more  graceful 
than  that  of  any  other  Indian.  Without  the  dignity 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  97 

of  Tecumthe,  he  possessed  more  persuasion  and 
plausibility. 

The  project  of  governing  the  Indians  through  the 
medium  of  a  person  supposed  to  be  in  immediate 
communication  with  the  Great  Spirit,  probably 
originated  with  Tecumthe,  who  found  a  suitable 
instrument  in  his  cunning  and  unprincipled  brother. 
The  Shawanese,  to  which  tribe  they  belonged,  had 
long  held  the  belief  that  they  were  the  favourite 
tribe,  in  the  estimation  of  the  Great  Spirit.  In  a 
speech  made  to  Governor  Harrison  in  1803,  an  old 
man  of  that  nation  said  that  the  Shawanese  had 
once  possessed  all  the  knowledge  in  the  world,  but 
that  having  offended  the  Great  Spirit,  he  had  taken 
it  from  them  and  lent  it  to  the  white  people,  who 
would  soon  be  obliged  to  surrender  it  to  the  Sha 
wanese.  Acting  upon  this  delusion,  the  prophet 
commenced  a  series  of  incantations,  and  from  time 
to  time  communicated  the  supposed  results  of  his 
intercourse  with  the  Great  Spirit.  He  uttered  the 
most  extravagant  prophecies,  in  reference  to  the 
speedy  downfall  of  the  whites,  the  restoration  of 
the  Indians  to  all  their  former  hunting-grounds, 
and  the  resumption  of  the  customs  of  their  ances 
tors.  To  hasten  this  desirable  end,  the  Indians 
were  admonished  to  abstain  from  the  use  of  alt 
articles  manufactured  by  the  whites,  and  to  cease 
their  intercourse  with  that  hated  race.  Tecumthe 
acted  upon  this  plan.  He  seldom  ate  with  a  white 
9 


98  MEMOIR    OF 

man,  and  uniformly  declined  all  articles  of  food 
which  were  peculiar  to  our  tables,  unless  when 
necessity  compelled  him  to  eat  them. 

The  consequences  of  these  intrigues  may  be 
readily  imagined.  The  plans  of  the  government 
in  reference  to  the  Indians  were  completely  thwart 
ed.  Confidence  between  the  parties  was  shaken,  and 
it  became  equally  difficult  to  protect  the  settlements, 
and  to  carry  into  effect  the  benevolent  measures 
which  had  been  planned  for  the  amelioration  of  the 
condition  of  the  savage. 

Nor  were  the  obstacles  to  the  establishment  of 
harmonious  relations,  those  only  which  were  raised 
by  the  Indians.  Although  the  government  desired 
to  treat  the  tribes  with  kindness  and  liberality,  and 
its  views  were  ably  seconded  by  Governor  Harri 
son,  there  was  no  corresponding  spirit  of  concilia 
tion  on  the  part  of  the  people  of  the  settlements. 
Mutual  and  long-continued  injuries  had  engrafted 
upon  the  minds  of  both  parties  a  deadly  feeling  of 
hatred,  which  continually  broke  out  in  acts  of  ag 
gression.  The  white  people  intruded  into  the  hunt 
ing-grounds  of  the  Indians,  and  destroyed  the  game, 
without  which  the  latter  could  not  subsist.  Hunters 
from  distant  settlements — from  Kentucky  and  Ohior 
— passed  frequently  into  the  Indian  territory ;  and 
as  they  killed  deer,  bear,  and  buffalo,  merely  for 
the  skins,  the  havoc  committed  by  them  was  far 
greater  than  that  of  the  savages,  who  followed  the 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  99 

chase  only  to  procure  food.  In  many  places  the 
game  was  almost  entirely  destroyed.  The  Indians, 
in  return  for  these  injuries,  destroyed  the  hogs  and 
cattle  of  the  nearest  settlers,  believing  the  retalia 
tion  fair,  and  not  waiting  to  inquire  whether  it  fell 
upon  the  proper  aggressor. 

A  still  more  prolific  source  of  discord  was  the 
illicit  trade  carried  on  with  the  Indians,  by  a  few 
mercenary  white  men.  Congress  had  passed  laws 
to  regulate  the  traffic  with  the  tribes,  and  to  prevent 
the  sale  of  spirituous  liquors  to  any  of  that  race ; 
but  the  courts  had  so  construed  those  laws  as  to 
confine  their  operation  to  the  Indian  territory,  and 
had  pronounced  them  inoperative  within  any  state, 
or  organized  territorial  government.  The  most 
shocking  disorders  resulted,  in  all  the  villages  bor 
dering  on  the  frontier.  The  means  of  intoxication 
were  furnished  to  the  Indians,  and  they  were 
cheated  out  of  their  furs  and  peltries.  Governor 
Harrison,  in  one  of  his  letters  to  the  Secretary  of 
War,  remarks  :  "  I  have  had  much  difficulty  with 
the  small  tribes  in  this  neighbourhood,  viz.  the 
Piankishaws,  the  Weas,  and  the  Eel  River  Miamis. 
These  three  tribes  form  a  body  of  the  most  depraved 
wretches  upon  earth.  They  are  daily  in  this  town 
in  considerable  numbers  ;  and  are  frequently  intox 
icated  to  the  number  of  thirty  or  forty  at  once, 
when  they  commit  the  greatest  disorders,  drawing 
their  knives,  and  stabbing  every  one  they  meet 


100  MEMOIR    OF 

with  ;  breaking  open  the  houses  of  citizens  ;  killing 
their  cattle  and  hogs,  and  breaking  down  their 
fences.  But  in  all  their  frolics  they  generally  suf 
fer  most  themselves ;  they  kill  each  other  without 
mercy."* 

"  The  Indian  chiefs  complain  heavily  of  the 
mischiefs  produced  by  the  enormous  quantity  of 
whiskey  which  the  traders  introduce  into  their 
country.  I  do  not  believe  that  there  are  more 
than  six  hundred  warriors  upon  the  Wabash,  and 
yet  the  quantity  of  whiskey  brought  here  annually 
for  their  consumption,  is  said  to  amount  to  six  thou 
sand  gallons.  This  noxious  liquor  not  only  inca 
pacitates  them  to  obtain  a  living  by  hunting,  but  it 
leads  to  the  most  atrocious  crimes.  Killing  each 
other  has  become  so  customary  amongst  them,  that 
it  is  no  longer  thought  criminal." 

"  Whether  something  ought  not  to  be  done  to 
prevent  the  reproach  which  will  attach  to  the 
American  name  and  character,  by  the  extirpation 
of  so  many  human  beings,  I  beg  most  respectfully 
to  submit  to  the  consideration  of  the  President." 

Among  the  Indians,  as  well  as  among  civilized 
men,  there  are  many  lawless  individuals,  who 
evade,  or  openly  defy,  the  established  regulations 
of  the  community  to  which  they  belong.  From 
savages  of  this  description,  the  frontiers  suffered 

*  Dawson's  Life  of  Harrison. 


WILLIAM  'IflflNRV    IIAR&3O*.  10T 


much.  At  a  time  when  the  tribe  to  which  they 
were  attached  was  nominally  at  peace  with  us,  and 
even  when  they  as  a  body  acted  in  good  faith,  small 
parties  often  §lole  into  the  settlements,  and,  under 
the  cover  of  night,  perpetrated  the  most  atrocious 
acts  of  robbery  and  murder. 

From  these  various  causes,  there  was  not  at  any 
time  a  season  of  entire  peace  and  security.  Mur 
ders  were  frequently  committed,  houses  were  burn 
ed,  property  was  stolen,  and  horses  —  without  which 
the  farmer  could  not  carry  on  his  labours,  which 
were  indispensable  in  the  defence  of  the  country, 
and  could  not  be  replaced  —  were  carried  away. 
Retaliation  followed  ;  and  the  governor  was  conti 
nually  called  upon  for  redress,  and  clamorously 
appealed  to,  to  lead  the  incensed  pioneers  into  a 
war  against  the  marauding  tribes. 

Under  these  circumstances,  councils  were  held 
with  the  Indians,  and  the  delicate  duty  devolved 
upon  Mr.  Harrison,  of  conducting  negotiations  with 
a  people  thus  offending,  and  thus  exasperated.  He 
had  to  purchase  their  lands,  and  to  inculcate  upon 
them  the  benevolent  views  of  the  government.  The 
various  interests  and  opinions  of  the  chiefs  were  to 
be  conciliated,  and  their  passions  to  be  soothed. 
Some  were  friendly,  some  mercenary,  and  some 
hostile  ;  but  it  was  necessary  to  unite  all  in  any 
treaty  that  was  made. 

Previous  to  such  a  council  the  British  agents 
9* 


usually  paid  them  a  visit,  and,  by  inflammatory 
speeches,  poisoned  their  minds  against  us.  Such 
was  the  speech  of  Colonel  M'Kee,  in  November, 
1804.  "  My  children,"  said  he,  "it  is  true  that 
the  Americans  do  not  wish  you  to  drink  any  spirit- 
ous  liquors,  and  therefore  have  told  their  traders 
that  they  should  not  carry  any  liquor  into  your 
country — but,  my  children,  they  have  no  right  to 
say  that  one  of  your  father's  traders,  (that  is,  the 
British  traders,)  should  carry  no  liquor  among 
his  children."  "  My  children,  your  father,  King 
George,  loves  his  red  children,  and  wishes  his  red 
children  supplied  with  every  thing  they  want ;  he 
is  not  like  the  Americans,  who  are  continually 
blinding  your  eyes,  and  stopping  your  ears  with 
good  words,  that  taste  sweet  as  sugar,  and  getting 
all  your  lands  from  you."  Thus  also,  on  a  similar 
occasion,  in  1805,  he  said  to  them,  "My  children, 
there  is  a  powerful  enemy  of  yours  to  the  east, 
now  on  his  feet,  and  looks  mad  at  you,  therefore 
you  must  be  on  your  guard ;  keep  your  weapons 
of  war  in  your  hands,  and  have  a  look-out  for  him." 
While  it  was  the  duty  of  Governor  Harrison  to 
treat  with  Indians  thus  prejudiced  and  incensed, 
their  greatest  orator,  Tecumthe,  the  firm  ally  of 
,  the  inveterate  foe  of  the  Americans, 
usually  present,  exerting  all  his  energies  to 
advance  his  own  purposes,  and  to  defeat  the  inten 
tions  of  our  government.  To  effect  these  objects 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  103 

he  spared  no  pains — in  council  he  spoke  with  the 
boldness  of  the  untamed  savage,  or  with  the  subtlety 
of  the  trained  diplomatist,  as  the  occasion  required  ; 
and  in  the  intervals  between  the  sittings,  he  em- 
ployed  himself  in  tampering  with  the  chiefs,  or  in 
flaming  the  minds  of  the  multitude.  He  more  than 
once  planned  the  assassination  of  the  governor; 
and  his  violent  appeals  and  audacious  conduct  in 
the  councils,  on  several  occasions,  were  calculated 
to  produce  immediate  hostilities. 

Governor  Harrison  felt  it  his  duty,  on  more  than 
one  occasion,  to  stipulate  that  a  certain  number  of 
warriors  only  should  attend  th-a  treaties ;  yet  in 
breach  of  these  previous  arrangements,  and  in  vio 
lation  of  his  instructions,  they  often  came  in  larger 
numbers,  and  completely  armed ;  as  if  determined 
to  overawe  him  by  a  show  of  power,  or  to  perpe 
trate  violence  under  the  guise  of  friendship.  The 
man  who  could  sit  in  council,  surrounded  by  hun 
dreds  of  armed  savages,  burning  with  vindictive 
feelings,  and  in  whose  faith  no  confidence  could  be 
placed — who  could  witness  calmly  the  turbulent 
appeals  of  Tecumthe  to  that  unruly  multitude,  and 
could  see  the  workings  of  their  fierce  natures,  with 
out  betraying  his  own  solicitude — and  could  control 
and  sway  them  to  his  purposes, — must  have  been 
gifted  with  more  than  ordinary  presence  of  mind, 
and  powers  of  conciliation.  He  made,  while  go- 
vernor^f  Indiana,  thirteen  important  treaties  with 


104  MEMOIR    OF 

the  Indians,  and  never  attempted  to  make  one  with 
out  success.  By  these  he  extinguished  the  Indian 
title  to  sixty  millions  of  acres,  for  a  less  price  than 
has  since  been  given  for  a  tenth  part  of  that  quan 
tity.  Mr.  Jefferson,  then  President,  testified  pub 
licly  his  approbation  of  these  measures ;  and  the 
people,  as  well  as  the  legislature  of  Indiana,  mani 
fested  their  sense  of  the  importance  of  Mr.  Harri 
son's  services,  by  complimentary  resolutions.  It 
is  difficult  to  point  out  any  department  of  the  public 
service  in  which  a  patriotic  citizen  has  been  more 
honourably  or  usefully  employed,  or  one  requiring 
greater  talent,  application  to  business,  and  devotion 
to  country.  For  thirteen  years  of  civil  service  he 
knew  neither  repose  nor  safety.  He  led  the  life 
of  a  warrior,  yet  discharged  the  duties  of  the  civil 
magistrate.  He  was  obliged  to  expose  his  own 
person,  and  the  lives  of  his  family,  to  defend  the 
homes  of  his  people,  while  he  was  executing  the 
laws,  and  building  up  the  institutions  of  a  new 
state.  During  all  the  same  lime,  he  was,  on  the 
part  of  his  government,  a  minister  of  benevolence 
to  the  deluded  tribes — inculcating  peace  upon  them, 
and  upon  the  injured  citizens  under  his  jurisdiction. 
When  we  say  that  duties  so  various,  so  complicated, 
and  of  such  magnitude,  were  discharged  with  fidel 
ity  and  success,  we  claim  for  Mr.  Harrison  a  dis 
tinguished  rank  among  the  statesmen  of  his  native 
country. 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  105 

In  connexion  with  Mr.  Harrison's  services  as 
superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  it  is  proper  to 
allude  here  to  his  voluminous  correspondence  with 
the  government,  which  was  published  with  the  offi 
cial  documents  of  that  period.  His  numerous  let 
ters  alone  afford  evidence  of  great  industry,  as  they 
comprise  a  mass  of  valuable  facts.  They  are  dis 
tinguished  by  great  minuteness  of  detail,  showing 
a  close  and  vigilant  attention  to  all  the  concerns  of 
his  department,  and  are  written  with  spirit  and 
clearness.  An  elevated  and  benevolent  tone  of 
policy  reigns  throughout — a  forbearing  and  kind 
spirit  towards  the  Indians,  becoming  the  high  func 
tionary  of  a  great,  civilized,  and  Christian  people, 
together  with  a  considerate  regard  for  the  interests 
of  the  population  under  his  government.  We  dwell 
on  this,  because  it  shows  great  goodness  of  heart, 
and  steadfastness  of  principle,  connected  with  an 
ability  for  conducting  public  affairs. 

Such  was  the  situation  occupied  by  Mr.  Harri 
son  during  the  whole  period  of  his  government  of 
Indiana.  His  post  was  one  of  labour  and  responsi 
bility,  as  well  as  great  delicacy  and  danger.  In 
structed  to  pursue  peace,  and  to  avoid  every  appear 
ance  of  a  hostile  or  jealous  disposition  in  his  inter 
course  with  the  tribes,  yet  his  situation  rendered  it 
necessary  to  be  always  prepared  for  defence.  The 
intrigues  of  the  British  agents  on  our  borders  were 
at  that, period  particularly  active,  and  the  savages 


106  MEMOIR    OF 

unusually  fierce,  turbulent,  and  vindictive;  and 
while  all  the  energy  and  military  skill  of  the  terri 
torial  governor  were  placed  in  requisition  to  defend 
a  long  line  of  exposed  frontier  against  a  numerous 
and  daring  enemy,  the  American  cabinet  continually 
instructed  him  to  avoid  hostility,  to  practise  for 
bearance,  and  cultivate  amicable  relations  with  the 
savage.  However  consistent  these  instructions  were 
with  the  dictates  of  benevolence,  they  were  fatal  to 
the  security  of  the  frontier ;  our  conciliatory  mea 
sures  never  stayed  the  work  of  desolation,  but  only 
afforded  impunity  to  the  lawless  savage,  while  they 
encouraged  the  audacity  of  the  foreign  emissary. 
With  the  Indian  war-whoop  yelling  on  one  hand, 
and  a  government  commanding  the  peace  upon  the 
other — with  a  feeble  settlement  claiming  protection 
at  one  point,  and  a  band  of  martial  borderers  de 
manding  to  be  led  to  battle  at  another — while  the 
agents  of  a  nation  at  peace  with  our  own,  urged  on 
the  savage,  and  her  military  posts  supplied  him 
with  arms,  there  can  scarcely  be  imagined  a  post 
requiring  the  exertion  of  greater  skill,  prudence, 
and  firmness,  than  that  of  the  governor  of  Indiana. 
Yet  Mr.  Harrison  filled  that  station  with  honour, 
and  while  he  gave  efficient  protection  to  the  fron 
tier,  never  sullied  his  fame  by  any  act  of  military 
violence  or  gratuitous  cruelty.  The  popularity  of 
his  administration  is  best  illustrated  by  the  fact, 
that  at  every  expiration  of  his  commission,  he  waa 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  107 

recommended  for  re-appointment  by  the  people.  On 
his  first  entrance  upon  the  duties  of  his  office,  he 
had  declared  his  intention  not  to  hold  the  station  a 
moment  longer  than  his  administration  should  be 
satisfactory  to  the  citizens  of  the  territory ;  and  at 
their  request,  his  successive  re-appointments  were 
given  by  Mr.  Adams,  Mr.  Jefferson,  and  Mr. 
Madison. 

It  may  not  be  improper  to  add  here  a  few  of  the 
evidences  which  are  upon  record,  of  the  decided 
approbation  with  which  his  conduct  as  a  public 
officer  was  viewed  by  those  who  witnessed  his  ser 
vices,  and  over  whom  his  administration  extended. 
The  following  is  :he  expression  of  the  sentiments 
of  the  citizens  of  St.  Louis,  on  the  occasion  when 
their  connexion  with  the  territory  of  Indiana  was 
about  to  cease : — 

"  To  his  Excellency  WILLIAM  H.  HARRISON,  Governor,  and  the 
honourable  the  Judges  of  the  Indiana  Territory. 

"  GENTLEMEN, 

"  An  arduous  public  service  assigned  you  by  the 
general  government  of  the  United  States,  is  about 
to  cease.  The  eve  of  the  anniversary  of  American 
Independence  will  close  the  scene ;  and  on  that 
celebrated  festival  will  be  organized,  under  the 
most  auspicious  circumstances,  a  government  for 
the  territory  of  Louisiana.  Local  situation  and 
circumstances  forbid  the  possibility  of  a  perma- 


108  MEMOIR    OF 

nent  political  connexion.  This  change,  however 
congenial  to  our  wishes,  and  conducive  to  our 
happiness,  will  not  take  effect  without  a  respectful 
expression  of  our  sentiments  to  you,  gentlemen,  for 
your  assiduity,  attention,  and  disinterested  punc 
tuality,  in  the  temporary  administration  of  the  go 
vernment  of  Louisiana. 
"  ST.  Louis,  July  2,  1805." 

The  officers  of  the  militia,  in  the  district  of  St. 
Louis,  presented  to  Governor  Harrison  an  address 
on  the  same  occasion,  which  concludes  with  the 
following  remark : — 

"  Accept,  sir,  these  sentiments  as  the  pledge  of 
our  affectionate  attachment  to  you,  and  to  the  mag 
nanimous  policy  by  which  you  have  been  guided. 
May  the  chief  magistrate  of  the  American  nation 
duly  estimate  your  worth  and  talents,  and  long 
keep  you  in  a  station  where  you  have  it  in  your 
power  to  gain  hearts  by  virtuous  actions,  and  pro 
mulgate  laws  among  men  who  know  how  to  re 
spect  you,  and  are  acquainted  with  the  extent  of 
their  own  rights." 

The  Legislative  Council,  at  its  first  session,  in 
an  address  to  the  governor,  said: — 

"  The  confidence  which  our  fellow-citizens  have 
uniformly  had  in  your  administration  is  such,  that 
they  have  hitherto  had  no  reason  to  be  jealous  of 
the  unlimited  power  which  you  possess  over  our 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  109 

legislative  proceedings.  We  however  cannot  help 
regretting  that  such  powers  should  have  been  lodged 
in  the  hands  of  any  one ;  especially  when  it  is  re 
collected  to  what  dangerous  lengths  the  exercise 
of  those  powers  may  be  extended." 

The  House  of  Representatives,  on  the  same  oc 
casion,  used  the  following  language  :->*• 

"  Accept,  sir,  the  thanks  of  the  House  of  Repre 
sentatives  for  the  speech  you  made  to  both  houses, 
on  the  opening  of  the  present  session.  In  it  we  dis 
cern  the  solicitude  for  the  future  happiness  and 
prosperity  of  the  territory,  which  has  uniformly 
been  evinced  by  your  past  administration." 

In  the  year  1809,  the  House  of  Representatives 
of  Indiana  unanimously  requested  the  re-appoint- 
Jnent  of  Governor  Harrison.  The  following  is  an 
extract  from  their  resolution  :^ — 

"  They  cannot  forbear  recommending  to,  and  re 
questing  of,  the  President  and  Senate,  most  ear 
nestly  iri  their  own  names,  and  in  the  names  of 
their'  constituents,  the  re-appointment  of  their  pre 
sent  governor,  William  Henry  Harrison, — because 
he  possesses  the  good  wishes  and  affection  of  a 
great  majority  of  his  fellow-citizens ;— because  they 
believe  him  sincerely  attached  to  the  union,  the 
prosperity  of  the  United  States,  and  the  adminis 
tration  of  its  government; — 'because  they  believe 
him  in  a  superior  degree  capable  of  promoting  the 
interest  of  our  territory,  from  long  experience  and 
10 


110  MEMOIR    OF 

laborious  attention  to  its  concerns,  from  his  influ 
ence  over  the  Indians,  and  wise  and  disinterested 
management  of  that  department ; — and  because 
they  have  confidence  in  his  virtues,  talents,  and 
republicanism." 

The  other  branch  concurred  in  this  resolution, 
with  but  two  dissenting  voices. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  officers  of  the  militia,  for  the 
county  of  Knox,  at  which  the  venerable  Colonel 
Vigo  presided,  in  October,  1809,  the  following 
resolution  was  passed  : — 

"  Resolved,  That  the  attention  paid,  and  the  un- 
remitted  exertions  used,  by  William  Henry  Harri 
son,  to  organize  and  discipline,  by  frequent  train 
ings,  the  militia  of  the  territory,  and  the  masterly 
skill  and  great  military  talents  displayed  in  such 
his  exertions,  together  with  the  anxious  solicitude 
with  which  he  has  ever  watched  over  the  peace  and 
happiness  of  the  territory ;  to  which  may  be  added, 
the  confidence  reposed  in  him  by  the  neighbouring 
tribes  of  Indians,  and  the  great  facility  and  ease 
with  which  he  manages  their  affairs, — induce  this 
meeting  to  have  great  confidence  in  him,  as  emi 
nently  qualified  to  govern  the  territory,  not  only 
because  of  his  superior  talents,  but  also  his  integ 
rity,  patriotism,  and  firm  attachment  to  the  general 
government." 


WLLLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  Ill 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Intrigues  of  Tecumthe — Council  at  Vincennes. 

UP  to  the  year  1811,  Tecumthe  and  his  brother 
were  engaged,  as  we  have  seen,  in  constant  in 
trigues  against  the  United  States.  They  had  dis 
turbed  all  the  councils  that  were  held,  and  endea 
voured  to  prevent  every  treaty  that  was  made. 
Surrounded  by  a  lawless  band,  composed  of  des 
perate  renegadoes  from  various  tribes,  by  the  young 
and  hot,  the  dissolute  and  dishonest,  they  scarcely 
practised  even  the  Punic  faith  of  the  Indian  code. 
They  asserted  that  all  the  lands  inhabited  by  In 
dians  belonged  to  the  tribes  indiscriminately — that 
no  tribe  had  a  right  to  transfer  any  soil  to  the 
whites  without  the  assent  of  all — and  that,  conse 
quently,  all  the  treaties  that  had  been  made  were 
invalid. 

In  1808,  the  prophet  established  his  principal 
place  of  rendezvous  on  the  Wabash,  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Tippecanoe — a  spot  which  soon  be 
came  known  as  the  Prophet's  Town.  Here  a  thou 
sand  young  warriors,  such  as  we  have  described, 
rallied  around  him ;  sallying  forth  in  greater  or 
smaller  parties,  to  commit  the  most  atrocious  deeds 


112  MEMOIR    OF 

of  depredation  and  murder,  along  the  whole  fron 
tier  of  Indiana.  Vincennes,  the  seat  of  govern 
ment,  was  often  threatened ;  and  the  governor's 
house  was  scarcely  considered  safe  from  the  intru 
sion  of  the  maddened  savages.  But  the  prophet, 
while  he  exercised  his  priestly  function  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  excite  the  superstition  of  his  motley 
crew  of  followers,  was  indolent,  sensual,  and  cow 
ardly;  and  his  mal-administration  soon  reduced  the 
number  of  his  followers  to  less  than  three  hundred. 
Even  these  were  so  much  impoverished  by  their 
excesses  and  improvidence,  that  on  one  occasion 
they  must  have  starved,  had  not  the  benevolence 
of  Governor  Harrison  induced  him  to  send  them  a 
supply  of  provisions.  The  return  of  Tecumthe, 
who  had  been  absent  on  a  visit  to  the  distant  tribes, 
restored  order. 

In  1809,  Governor  Harrison  purchased  from  the 
Delawares,  Miamis,  and  Potawatamies,  a-  large 
tract  of  country  on  both  sides  of  the  Wabash,  and 
extending  up  that  river  about  sixty  miles  above 
Vincennes.  Tecurnthe  was  absent,  and  his  bro 
ther,  not  feeling  himself  interested,  made  no  oppo 
sition  to  the  treaty ;  but  the  former,  on  his  return, 
expressed  great  dissatisfaction,  and  threatened  some 
of  the  chiefs  with  death,  who  had  made  the  treaty. 
Governor  Harrison,  hearing  of  his  displeasure,'  dis 
patched  a  messenger  to  invite  him  to  come  to  Vin 
cennes,  and  to  assure  him,  "  that  any  claims  he 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  118 

might  have  to  the  lands  which  had  been  ceded, 
were  not  affected  by  the  treaty ;  that  he  might 
come  to  Vincennes  and  exhibit  his  pretensions, 
and  if  they  were  found  to  be  valid,  the  land  would 
either  be  given  up,  or  an  ample  compensation  made 
for  it." 

Having  no  confidence  in  the  faith  of  Tecumthe, 
the  governor  directed  that  he  should  not  bring 
with  him  more  than  thirty  warriors ;  but  he  came 
with  four  hundred,  completely  armed.  The  people 
of  Vincennes  were  in  great  alarm,  nor  was  the 
governor  without  apprehension  that  treachery  was 
intended.  This  suspicion  was  not  diminished  by 
the  conduct  of  the  chief,  who,  on  the  morning  after 
his  arrival,  refused  to  hold  the  council  at  the  place 
appointed,  under  an  affected  belief  that  treachery 
was  intended  on  our  side. 

A  large  portico  in  front  of  the  governor's  house 
had  been  prepared  for  the  purpose  with  s^ats,  as 
well  for  the  Indians,  as  for  the  citizens  who  were 
expected  to  attend.  When  Tecumthe  came  from 
his  camp,  with  about  forty  of  his  warriors,  he 
stood  off,  and  on  being  invited  by  the  governor, 
through  an  interpreter,  to  take  his  seat,  refused, 
observing  that  he  wished  the  council  to  be  held 
under  the  shade  of  some  trees  in  front  of  the  house. 
When  it  was  objected  that  it  would  be  troublesome 
to  remove  the  seats,  he  replied,  "  that  it  would 
only  be  necessary  to  remove  those  intended  for  the 
10* 


114  MEMOIR    OF 

whites — that  the  red  men  were  accustomed  to  sit 
upon  the  earth,  which  was  their  mother,  and  that 
they  were  always  happy  to  recline  upon  her 
bosom." 

At  this  council,  held  on  the  12th  of  August, 
1810,  Tecumthe  delivered  a  speech,  of  which  we 
find  the  following  report,  containing  the  sentiments 
uttered,  but  in  a  language  very  different  from  that 
of  the  Indian  orator : — 

"  I  have  made  myself  what  I  am  ;  and  I  would 
that  I  could  make  the  red  people  as  great  as  the 
conceptions  of  my  mind,  when  I  think  of  the  Great 
Spirit,  that  rules  over  all.  I  would  not  then  come 
to  Governor  Harrison  to  ask  him  to  tear  the  treaty; 
but  I  would  say  to  him,  Brother,  you  have  liberty 
to  return  to  your  own  country.  Once  there  was 
no  white  man  in  all  this  country :  then  it  belonged 
to  red  men,  children  of  the  same  parents,  placed 
on  it  by  the  Great  Spirit  to  keep  it,  to  travel  over 
it,  to  eat  its  fruits,  and  fill  it  with  the  same  race — 
once  a  happy  race,  but  now  made  miserable  by 
the  white  people,  who  are  never  contented,  but 
always  encroaching.  They  have  driven  us  from 
the  great  salt  water,  forced  us  over  the  mountains, 
and  would  shortly  push  us  into  the  lakes— but  we 
are  determined  to  go  no  further.  The  only  way 
to  stop  this  evil,  is  for  all  the  red  men  to  unite  in 
claiming  a  common  and  equal  right  in  the  land,  as 
it  was  at  first,  and  should  be  now — for  it  never 


WILLIAM   HENRY   HARRISON.  115 

was  divided,  but  belongs  to  all.  No  tribe  has  a 
right  to  sell,  even  to  each  other,  much  less  to 
strangers,  who  demand  all,  and  will  take  no  less. 
The  white  people  have  no  right  to  take  the  land 
from  the  Indians  who  had  it  first — it  is  theirs. 
They  may  sell,  but  all  must  join.  Any  sale  not 
made  by  all,  is  not  good.  The  late  sale  is  bad — 
it  was  made  by  a  part  only.  Part  do  not  know 
how  to  sell.  It  requires  all  to  make  a  bargain 
for  all." 

Governor  Harrison,  in  his  reply,  said,  "  that  the 
white  people,  when  they  arrived  upon  this  conti 
nent,  had  found  the  Miamis  in  the  occupation  of  all 
the  country  of  the  Wabash ;  and  at  that  time  the 
Shawanese  were  residents  of  Georgia,  from  which 
they  were  driven  by  the  Creeks.  That  the  lands 
had  been  purchased  from  the  Miamis,  who  were 
the  true  and  original  owners  of  it.  That  it  was 
ridiculous  to  assert  that  all  the  Indians  were  one 
nation ;  for  if  such  had  been  the  intention  of  the 
Great  Spirit,  he  would  not  have  put  six  different 
tongues  into  their  heads,  but  would  have  taught 
them  all  to  speak  one  language.  That  the  Miamis 
had  found  it  for  their  interest  to  sell  a  part  of  their 
lands,  and  receive  for  them  a  further  annuity,  in 
addition  to  what  they  had  long  enjoyed,  and  the 
benefit  of  which  they  had  experienced,  from  the 
punctuality  with  which  the  seventeen  fires  complied 
with  their  engagements ;  and  that  the  Shawanese 


116  MEMOIR    OF 

had  no  right  to  come  from  a  distant  country,  to 
control  the  Miamis  in  the  disposal  of  their  own 
property." 

The  interpreter  had  scarcely  finished  the  expla 
nation  of  these  remarks,  when  Tecumthe  fiercely 
exclaimed,  "  It  is  false  !"  and  giving  a  signal  to  his 
warriors,  they  sprang  upon  their  feet,  from  the 
green  grass  on  which  they  were  sitting,  and  seized 
their  war-clubs.  The  governor,  and  the  small 
train  that  surrounded  him,  were  now  in  imminent 
danger.  He  was  attended  by  a  few  citizens,  who 
were  unarmed.  A  military  guard  of  twelve  men, 
who  had  been  stationed  near  him,  and  whose  pre 
sence  was  considered  rather  as  an  honorary  than 
a  defensive  measure, — being  exposed,  as  it  was 
thought  unnecessarily,  to  the  heat  of  the  sun  in  a 
sultry  August  day,  had  been  humanely  directed  by 
the  governor  to  remove  to  a  shaded  spot  at  some 
distance.  But  the  governor,  retaining  his  presence 
of  mind,  rose  and  placed  his  hand  upon  his  sword, 
at  the  same  time  directing  those  of  his  friends  and 
suite  who  were  about  him,  to  stand  upon  their 
guard.  Tecumthe  addressed  the  Indians  in  a  pas 
sionate  tone,  and  with  violent  gesticulations.  Major 
G.  R.  C.  Floyd,  of  the  U.  S.  army,  who  stood 
near  the  governor,  drew  his  dirk;  Winnemak,  a 
friendly  chief,  cocked  his  pistol,  and  Mr.  Wi- 
nans,  a  Methodist  preacher,  ran  to  the  governor's 
house,  seized  a  gun,  and  placed  himself  in  the  door 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  117 

to  defend  the  family.  For  a  few  moments  all  ex 
pected  a  bloody  rencounter.  The  guard  was  or 
dered  up,  and  would  instantly  have  fired  upon  the 
Indians,  had  it  not  been  for  the  coolness  of  Go 
vernor  Harrison,  who  restrained  them.  He  then 
calmly,  but  authoritatively,  told  Tecumthe,  that 
"  he  was  a  bad  man — that  he  would  have  no  fur 
ther  talk  with  him — that  he  must  return  now  to  his 
camp,  and  take  his  departure  from  the  settlements 
immediately." 

The  next  morning,  Tecumthe  having  reflected 
on  the  impropriety  of  his  conduct,  and  finding  that 
he  had  to  deal  with  a  man  as  bold  and  vigilant  as 
himself,  who  was  not  to  be  daunted  by  his  auda 
cious  turbulence,  nor  circumvented  by  his  specious 
manoeuvres,  apologized  for  the  affront  he  had  of 
fered,  and  begged  that  the  council  might  be  renew 
ed.  To  this  the  governor  consented,  suppressing 
any  feeling  of  resentment  which  he  might  naturally 
have  felt,  and  determined  to  leave  no  exertion  un 
tried,  to  carry  into  effect  the  pacific  views  of  the 
government.  It  was  agreed  that  each  party  should 
have  the  same  attendance  as  on  the  previous  day  ; 
but  the  governor  took  the  precaution  to  place  him 
self  in  an  attitude  to  command  respect,  and  to  pro 
tect  the  inhabitants  of  Vincennes  from  violence,  by 
ordering  two  companies  of  militia  to  be  placed  on 
duty  within  the  village. 

Tecumthe  presented  himself  with  the  same  un- 


118  MEMOIR    OF 

daunted  bearing  which  always  marked  him  as  a 
superior  man ;  but  he  was  now  dignified  and  col 
lected,  and  showed  no  disposition  to  resume  his 
former  insolent  deportment.  He  disclaimed  having 
entertained  any  intention  of  attacking  the  governor, 
but  said  he  had  been  advised  by  white  men  to  do 
as  he  had  done.  Two  white  men — British  emis 
saries  undoubtedly — had  visited  him  at  his  place 
of  residence,  had  told  him  that  half  the  white  peo 
ple  were  opposed  to  the  governor,  and  willing  to 
relinquish  the  land,  and  urged  him  to  advise  the 
tribes  not  to  receive  pay  for  it,  alleging  that  the 
governor  would  soon  be  recalled,  and  a  good  man 
put  in  his  place,  who  would  give  up  the  land  to  the 
Indians.  The  governor  inquired  whether  he  would 
forcibly  oppose  the  survey  of  the  purchase.  He 
replied,  that  he  was  determined  to  adhere  to  the 
old  boundary.  Then  arose  a  Wyandot,  a  Kick- 
apoo,  a  Potawatamie,  an  Ottawa,  and  a  Winnebago 
chief,  each  declaring  his  determination  to  stand  by 
Tecumthe.  The  governor  then  said  that  the  words 
of  Tecumthe  should  be  reported  to  the  President, 
who  would  take  measures  to  enforce  the  treaty  ; 
and  the  council  ended. 

The  governor,  still  anxious  to  conciliate  the 
haughty  savage,  paid  him  a  visit  next  day  at  his 
own  camp.  He  was  received  with  kindness  and 
attention, —  his  uniform  courtesy,  and  inflexible 
firmness,  having  won  the  respect  of  the  rude  war- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  119 

riors  of  the  forest.  They  conversed  for  some  time, 
but  Tecumthe  obstinately  adhered  to  all  his  former 
positions ;  and  when  Governor  Harrison  told  him, 
that  he  was  sure  the  President  would  not  yield  to 
his  pretensions,  the  chief  replied,  "  Well,  as  the 
great  chief  is  to  determine  the  matter,  I  hope  the 
Great  Spirit  will  put  sense  enough  into  his  head  to 
induce  him  to  direct  you  to  give  up  this  land.  It 
is  true,  he  is  so  far  off,  he  will  not  be  injured  by 
the  war.  He  may  sit  still  in  his  town,  and  drink  his 
wine,  while  you  and  I  will  have  to  fight  it  out." 

This  is  an  accurate  account  of  an  interesting 
council,  the  proceedings  of  which  have  been  much 
misrepresented.  A  love  for  the  romantic  and  the 
marvellous  has  induced  speeches  to  be  written  for 
Tecumthe,  which  were  never  delivered.  His  con 
duct  was  distinguished  on  this  occasion  by  violence, 
not  by  eloquence ;  his  art  was  displayed  in  attempts 
to  intimidate  the  Americans,  and  to  create  an 
affray,  by  stirring  up  the  vindictive  feelings  of  his 
followers,  and  not  by  any  display  of  argument. 


120  MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Hostilities  commenced  —  Governor  Harrison  di* 
rected  to  march  against  the  Prophet's  Town. 

IN  1811,  the  near  approach  of  a  war  between 
the  United  States  and  Great  Britain,  rendered  Te- 
cumthe  and  his  brother  more  audacious  than  ever. 
They  began  to  assemble  a  new  body  of  warriors 
at  the  Prophet's  Town  ;  the  impostor  practised  his 
infernal  incantations  with  great  industry,  and  his 
gift  of  prophecy  renewed  itself  with  invigorated 
fecundity ;  marauding  parties  roved  more  frequently 
than  ever  towards  the  settlements ;  and  a  number 
of  murders  were  committed  on  the  frontiers  of  Illi 
nois  and  Indiana.  These  circumstances  induced 
the  governor  to  place  the  territory  in  the  best  pos 
ture  for  defence  which  its  limited  resources  would 
admit ;  and  he  was  soon  after,  at  his  own  earnest 
instance,  and  the  repeated  petitions  of  the  people, 
directed  by  the  President  to  move  with  an  armed 
force  towards  the  Prophet's  Town.  But  he  was 
imperatively  commanded  to  avoid  hostilities,  "  of 
any  kind,  or  to  any  degree,  not  indispensably  re 
quired." 

The  situation  of  a  commander,  thus  ordered  to 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  121 

the  field  with  a  limited  discretion,  which  gave  every 
advantage  to  the  enemy,  while  it  placed  his  own 
troops  in  constant  jeopardy,  was  by  no  means  en 
viable.  At  the  head  of  undisciplined  troops,  always 
difficult  to  control,  and  now  panting  for  revenge,  a 
continued  exertion  of  prudence  was  required,  to  re 
strain  their  impatience.  Before  him  was  a  numer 
ous  army  prepared  for  war,  and  led  by  an  accom 
plished  leader ;  behind  him  a  long  line  of  scattered 
settlements,  the  safety  of  which  depended  on  his 
success.  With  the  conviction,  founded  on  evidence 
that  could  scarcely  be  deceptive,  that  a  battle  must 
be  fought,  the  event  of  which  must  decide  the  fate 
of  hundreds  of  defenceless  women  and  children,  he 
was  shackled  by  instructions  which  gave  to  his  foe 
the  important  advantage  of  choosing  the  time  and 
place  of  attack,  of  selecting  his  own  ground,  and 
striking  the  first  blow.  He  was  to  fight  when  at 
tacked,  but  not  till  then — when  the  prophet  should 
decide  that  the  propitious  hour  had  arrived — when 
the  savage  chieftain  should  have  matured  his  plan, 
and  the  shadows  of  the  forest  should  be  deepened 
by  the  gloom  of  a  moonless  night. 

When  the  news  reached  Kentucky,  that  Governor 
Harrison  was  authorized  to  march  against  the 
Indians,  the  public  mind  was  excited  to  enthusiasm. 
So  many  years  had  been  spent  in  suffering,  so  long 
had  the  Indians  and  their  British  allies  devastated 
the  frontier,  that  an  opportunity  for  vengeance  was 
11 


122  MEMOIR    OF 

hailed  with  universal  acclamation.  The  name  of 
Harrison  excited  confidence  and  expectation.  The 
western  people  had  long  witnessed  his  sterling 
patriotism,  his  unyielding  intrepidity,  his  untiring 
industry  in  the  public  service ;  and  volunteers  at 
once  announced  their  readiness  to  follow  his  stand 
ard.  Many  of  them  were  men  of  high  standing 
for  military  and  civil  character.  Of  this  number 
were  General  Samuel  Wells  of  the  militia,  who  had 
been  actively  engaged  in  the  former  wars  with  the 
Indians — Joseph  H.  Daviess,  an  eminent  lawyer, 
and  a  man  of  extraordinary  talents,  eloquence,  and 
popularity  —  Colonel  Abraham  Owen,  a  veteran 
warrior  in  Indian  warfare — and  Colonel  Guiger, 
who  raised  a  small  company  of  young  men  near 
Louisville ;  in  this  army  also  were  Croghan,  O'Fal- 
lon,  Shipp,  Cheem,  and  Edwards,  who  afterwards 
distinguished  themselves  as  officers  in  the  army  of 
the  United  States. 

The  4th  regiment  of  United  States  infantry, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Boyd,  was  placed  under 
the  orders  of  Governor  Harrison,  at  his  request; 
and  the  army  then  consisted  of  little  more  than  nine 
hundred  men,  of  whom  about  three  hundred  and 
fifty  were  infantry  of  the  regular  service,  and  the 
remainder  volunteer  militia,  of  whom  the  chief  por 
tion  were  from  Indiana,  and  sixty  or  seventy  men 
from  Kentucky.  One  hundred  and  twenty  were 
dragoons.  The  governor  in  person  exercised  these 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  123 

troops,  in  that  mode  of  formation  which  had  been 
so  successfully  practised  by  Wayne;  giving  them 
the  instruction  which  was  equally  necessary  for 
the  regular  troops  and  the  militia,  as  this  kind  of 
manoeuvring  was  entirely  new  to  the  former. 

On  the  28th  of  October,  1811,  the,  march  was 
commenced  from  Fort  Harrison,  a  post  on  the  Wa- 
bash  about  sixty  miles  above  Vincennes.  In  the 
mean  while  an  attempt  was  made,  through  the  in 
tervention  of  the  Delaware  and  Miami  tribes,  to 
induce  the  prophet  to  deliver  up  the  murderers  and 
stolen  horses.  The  impostor  and  his  council  treat 
ed  these  overtures  with  insolence,  and  rejected  them 
with  disdain.  To  leave  no  doubt  of  their  intentions, 
a  small  war-party  was  detached  to  commence  hos 
tilities  ;  who,  not  meeting  with  any  stragglers  from 
our  camp,  advanced  to  the  vicinity  of  the  army, 
and  fired  upon  a  sentinel. 

The  march  to  Tippecanoe  was  conducted  with 
great  prudence.  The  troops  were  encamped  in  the 
order  of  battle ;  and  they  marched  in  a  form  from 
which  that  order  could  be  assumed  with  facility, 
at  a  moment's  warning :  the  infantry  in  two  col 
umns,  in  single  file  on  each  side  of  the  trace,  so 
that  by  a  single  conversion  they  could  be  formed 
in  two  lines  to  receive  the  enemy  at  any  point,  or 
be  reduced  into  a  hollow  square — the  cavalry,  and 
mounted  riflemen,  of  the  latter  of  which  there  were 
two  companies,  covering  the  advance,  flank,  and 


124  MEMOIR    OF 

rear,  and  exchanging  positions  with  each  other  as 
the  ground  varied,  so  as  to  keep  them  upon  that 
which  best  suited  the  mode  of  fighting  they  prac 
tised  respectively.  The  utmost  vigilance  was  used 
to  guard  against  surprise ;  to  prevent  the  Indians 
from  availing  themselves  of  the  art  of  ambuscading, 
in  which  they  are  perfectly  skilled ;  and  to  save 
the  army  from  being  attacked  in  a  disadvantageous 
position. 

The  country  through  which  the  army  passed 
was  chiefly  open,  beautiful  prairie,  intersected  by 
thick  woods,  deep  creeks,  and  ravines.  At  some 
distance  above  Fort  Harrison,  two  routes  were  pre 
sented  to  the  choice  of  the  commander.  The  one 
leading  along  the  south  side  of  the  Wabash,  was 
the  shorter;  but  it  passed  through  a  woody  uneven 
country,  while  that  on  the  other  side  led  over  wide 
plains,  affording  few  coverts  for  the  protection  of 
the  insidious  foe.  To  deceive  the  enemy,  the  go 
vernor  caused  a  road  to  be  marked  on  the  south 
side,  advanced  upon  it  for  a  short  distance,  and 
then  suddenly  changed  his  direction,  and  by  a 
masterly  operation  threw  his  army  across  the  river, 
to  the  right  bank. 

The  Indians  were  completely  deceived  by  this 
manoeuvre,  and  their  stratagems  defeated.  After 
crossing  the  Wabash,  our  army  continued  to  ad 
vance  for  three  days,  without  seeing  an  Indian,  or 
discovering  any  recent  sign.  But  the  vigilance  of 


WILLIAM    HENRY   HARRISON.  125 

the  governor  was  not  diminished ;  his  experience 
had  taught  him,  that  the  Indians  are  expert  in  lull 
ing  the  suspicions  of  an  enemy,  and  that  the  storm 
of  their  vengeance  is  often  preceded  by  a  deceptive 
calm. 

For  the  purpose  of  keeping  himself  advised  as  to 
the  position  of  the  enemy,  whose  peculiar  tactics 
and  mode  of  life  enable  them  to  elude  with  facility 
the  pursuit  of  a  regular  force,  the  governor  had, 
from  the  commencement  of  his  march,  adopted 
the  plan  of  keeping  up  an  intercourse  with  them 
through  five  of  the  friendly  Indians,  and  a  French 
man,  who  were  sent  from  Fort  Harrison,  and  were 
to  meet  him  on  the  way.  For  several  days  he  had 
heard  nothing  of  the  persons  thus  employed,  and 
their  delay  in  returning  became  a  subject  of  serious 
uneasiness.  The  hostile  Indians  had  avoided  our 
troops  during  the  whole  march,  and  some  uncer 
tainty  began  to  be  created  as  to  their  position  and 
intentions.  It  was  doubtful  whether  they  were  am 
bushed  in  advance,  whether  they  had  retired  to  the 
Prophet's  Town  to  make  a  stand  there,  or  had 
passed  the  flanks  of  the  army,  for  the  purpose  of 
falling  upon  the  settlements  in  its  rear.  The  last 
was  a  manoeuvre  entirely  practicable ;  and  it  was 
one  greatly  to  be  dreaded,  as  it  would  have  brought 
the  horrors  of  war  to  the  domestic  fireside,  and 
have  caused  avast  destruction  of  life  and  property. 

Vincennes  was  at  this  time  an  outpost  in  the 
11* 


126  MEMOIR    OF 

wilderness — the  most  westward  of  a  narrow  and 
loosely  connected  line  of  settlements,  extending 
across  the  territory  of  Indiana,  from  the  falls  of 
Ohio.  It  was  a  line  having  length  without  much 
breadth  or  solidity — having  little  strength  in  itself, 
and  difficult  to  be  protected.  A  large  proportion 
of  the  able-bodied  men  were  in  the  army,  leaving 
their  homes  defenceless,  and  the  country  exposed 
to  almost  certain  destruction,  should  a  sudden  inroad 
be  made  by  the  Indians. 

The  uncertainty  of  the  position  of  the  enemy 
threw  upon  Governor  Harrison  a  heavy  weight  of 
responsibility.  Had  he  been  opposed  to  a  regular 
army,  it  would  have  been  his  duty  to  know  its  po 
sition,  and  to  become  advised  of  its  movements,  in 
accordance  with  those  rules  of  the  military  art, 
which  are  familiar  to  the  accomplished  command 
er  ;  and  he  might  have  been  expected  to  interpose 
his  force  between  the  foe  and  the  points  to  be  pro 
tected,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  insure  the  safety  of 
the  latter.  But  no  army,  however  large  or  active, 
can  present  a  barrier  against  an  irruption  of  sav 
ages,  who,  having  no  artillery,  baggage,  nor  com 
mon  store  of  provisions,  can  at  any  moment  dissolve 
their  army  into  its  elements,  disperse  themselves  so 
as  to  leave  no  organized  force,  and  re-unite  at  any 
point  proposed  to  be  attacked — who  can  pass  the 
forest  without  roads,  and  the  rivers  without  bridges, 
and  leave  scarcely  a  trace  of  their  foot-prints. 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  127 

Such  circumstances  were  calculated  to  create 
great  anxiety  in  the  mind  of  a  commander ;  and 
especially  when,  as  the  civil  chief  magistrate,  as 
well  as  the  military  head,  the  whole  responsibility 
rested  upon  himself,  and  it  became  his  duty  to  pro 
tect  the  houses  of  his  people  from  outrage,  while 
he  was  invading  the  strong-hold  of  the  enemy. 
After  crossing  the  river,  the  suspense  of  the  go 
vernor,  on  this  intensely  interesting  subject,  became 
painful.  Anxious  as  he  was  to  push  forward,  the 
idea  that  the  enemy  might  even  now  be  rushing 
upon  the  settlements,  caused  deep  solicitude  for  the 
safety  of  the  defenceless  population  at  home — and 
had  he  retraced  his  steps,  the  measure  would  have 
been  one  of  such  obvious  prudence,  that  no  military 
man  would  have  been  found  to  censure  it. 

These  reflections  pressed  upon  the  governor's 
mind1  so  heavily  as  to  become  painful,  and  to  drive 
away  the  sleep  which  is  usually  so  sound  to  him, 
who  lies  wrapped  in  his  blanket  by  the  camp  fire, 
after  a  weary  day's  march.  He  determined  to  per 
severe  in  his  march  upon  the  Tippecanoe  Town, 
but  to  make  further  provision  for  the  -protection  of 
the  settlements ;  he  rose  one  night  from  the  hard 
couch  of  the  border  leader,  and  dispatched  his  or 
derly  for  Major  Jordan  of  the  Indiana  volunteers, 
in  whom  he  had  great  confidence.  He  directed 
that  officer  to  take  forty  picked  men,  and  return  to 


128  MEMOIR    OP 

Vincennes,  to  protect  that  post,  and  to  place  that, 
and  the  other  settlements,  upon  their  guard. 

The  order  to  Jordan  was  minute,  as  well  in  rela 
tion  to  his  conduct  on  reaching  the  settlement,  as 
in  case  of  disaster  to  the  army.  In  the  latter  event, 
he  directed  him  to  fortify  the  court-house  in  Vin 
cennes,  and  other  houses  capable  of  defence,  and 
place  in  them  the  women  and  children,  and  to  send 
expresses  to  the  governor  of  Kentucky,  inviting 
volunteers  from  that  state.  By  this  conveyance  he 
wrote  to  his  friend  Dr.  Scott  of  Frankfort,  who  had 
come  to  Vincennes  to  attend  Mrs.  Harrison  in  an 
expected  indisposition,  and  to  remain  with  the  go 
vernor's  family  during  his  absence.  This  gentle 
man,  who  had  served  in  the  army  of  Wayne  with 
Harrison,  had  written  him  a  letter  from  Vincennes, 
urging  him  to  caution,  reminding  him  of  the  subtle 
nature  of  his  enemy,  and  that  his  honour,  as  well 
as  his  life,  depended  upon  his  circumspection.  In 
his  letter,  by  Major  Jordan,  the  governor  informed 
his  friend  that  his  only  uneasiness  was  for  the  wives 
and  children  of  himself  and  his  gallant  fellow-sol 
diers.  That  although  his  force  was  much  smaller 
than  it  should  have  been  for  such  an  expedition,  he 
had  no  fears  for  the  issue  of  the  campaign.  That 
he  well  understood  the  danger  to  which  he  was 
personally  exposed,  from  the  knowledge  which  the 
Indians  had  of  his  person,  and  their  hostility 
towards  him.  But  that  his  life  was  in  the  hands 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  129 

of  Providence,  and  his  friend  might  rest  assured 
that  he  would  bring  no  disgrace  upon  the  character 
of  a  pupil  of  Wayne.  In  the  event  of  his  fall,  he 
recommended  his  family  to  the  care  of  his  friend.*' 

Major  Jordan  proceeded  reluctantly  on  this  duty, 
which,  although  it  imposed  an  honourable  service, 
withdrew  him  from  the  active  scenes  of  the  cam 
paign,  and  deprived  him  of  his  share  of  the  antici 
pated  laurels. 

On  the  4th  of  November,  the  army  reached  Pine 
creek,  and  prepared  to  cross  its  difficult  pass.  This 
stream  presents  a  character  not  usually  found  in 
that  region  of  country.  Its  course,  for  many  miles 
above  its  confluence  with  the  Wabash,  is  through 
a  deep  channel,  worn  into  an  immense  mass  of 

*  Dr.  Scott,  the  gentleman  to  whom  this  letter  was  ad 
dressed,  afterwards  commanded  the  1st  regiment  of  Ken 
tucky  volunteers  under  General  Harrison.  •  His  regiment 
composed  a  part  of  the  detachment  ordered  by  the  general 
from  Fort  Wayne,  to  destroy  the  Potawatamie  towns  at  Elk 
Hart.  Being  in  bad  health,  the  general  desired  him  not  to 
accompany  the  detachment,  assuring  him  that  there  would 
be  no  fighting,  as  the  Indians  could  not  assemble  in  that 
quarter,  in  time  to  make  head  against  the  detachment.  In 
despite  of  these  remonstrances,  the  gallant  colonel  appeared 
at  the  head  of  his  regiment,  and  declared  that  no  other  per 
son  should  lead  it  towards  the  enemy,  while  he  was  able  to 
mount  his  horse.  The  service  was  effected  without  opposi 
tion  ;  but  the  patriotic  colonel  was  taken  ill  upon  his  return, 
and  shortly  afterwards  expired,  a  victim  to  his  high  sense 
of  military  etiquette. 


130  MEMOIR    OF 

rock,  the  sides  of  which,  in  many  places,  are  formed 
into  perpendicular  precipices.  But  few  crossing- 
places  can  be  found,  and  these  are  approached  by 
deep,  narrow,  and  difficult  defiles,  in  passing  which 
the  order  of  a  regular  army  must  be  broken,  and 
its  troops  exposed,  under  the  most  disadvantageous 
circumstances,  to  the  danger  of  an  ambuscade. 
The  Indian  path  upon  which  our  gallant  troops 
were  then  marching,  led  to  one  of  these  dangerous 
denies.  It  had  been  selected  for  an  ambuscade  in 
the  year  1786,  when  General  George  Rogers 
Clarke  led  an  expedition  into  the  Indian  country, 
and  afterwards  in  1790,  when  Colonel  Hamtramck 
marched  a  body  of  troops  against  the  same  enemy. 
With  a  knowledge  of  these  facts,  the  governor  skil 
fully  avoided  the  danger,  by  suddenly  quitting  the 
usual  trail  when  near  the  place  of  crossing,  and  pass 
ing  the  creek  at  another  place,  which  he  had  caused 
to  be  reconnoitred  during  the  preceding  night.  It  is 
by  such  attention  to  details,  and  such  ready  adapt 
ation  of  measures  to  present  circumstances,  that 
the  talents  of  the  consummate  commander  are  dis 
played.  To  be  brave  and  skilful  in  battle  is  highly 
meritorious ;  but  to  be  wise  and  prudent  in  guard 
ing  against  defeat,  in  securing  the  means  of  victory, 
and  in  sparing  the  effusion  of  blood,  requires  mili 
tary  genius  and  knowledge  of  the  highest  order. 
Leaders  have  gained  brilliant  names  by  their  suc 
cess  in  a  single  battle — and  those  who  risk  life  for 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  131 

their  country,  deserve  that  country's  gratitude ;  but 
how  much  greater  is  the  merit  of  the  commander, 
who  by  unceasing  vigilance  preserves  the  lives  of 
his  brave  countrymen  who  follow  his  banner,  while 
he  leads  them,  by  a  carefully  matured  plan,  to  ul 
timate  victory,  and  at  the  same  time  that  he  gains 
unfading  glory  for  his  country,  demonstrates  that 
his  triumph  is  not  the  result  of  a  blind  chance ! 


132  MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER  X. 
Battle  of  Tippecanoe. 

HERETOFORE  we  have  seen  Governor  Harrison 
employed  in  negotiations  for  peace,  and  earnestly 
endeavouring  to  dissuade  the  Indians  from  a  war 
which  must  prove  ruinous  to  themselves.  We  have 
seen  him  approaching  the  Indian  fortress  with  the 
circumspection  of  an  able  commander,  anxious  to 
avoid  hostilities,  but  always  prepared  for  battle — 
foiling  the  enemy  in  every  attempt  to  deceive  or 
surprise  him,  and  instilling  into  his  troops  the  con 
fidence,  the  discipline,  and  the  obedience,  which 
always  insure  victory.  We  are  now  to  see  him  on 
the  field  of  battle,  and  to  record  the  events  of  an 
engagement  which  ranks  among  the  most  brilliant 
in  our  history,  and  in  which  he  achieved  a  victory 
as  complete,  as  it  was  honourable  to  himself  and 
his  brave  army. 

As  this  engagement  has  been  well  described  by 
M'Affee,  a  gallant  and  accomplished  Kentuckian, 
we  shall  follow  his  account,  making  some  slight 
corrections  from  other  authorities. 

u  On  the  evening  of  the  5th  of  November,  the 
army  encamped  at  the  distance  of  nine  or  ten  miles 
from  the  Prophet's  Town.  It  was  ascertained  that 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  133 

the  approach  of  the  army  had  been  discovered  be 
fore  it  reached  Pine  creek.  The  traces  of  recon 
noitring  parties  were  very  often  seen,  but  no  Indians 
were  discovered  until  the  troops  arrived  within  five 
or  six  miles  of  the  town  on  the  6th  of  November. 
The  interpreters  ..were  then  placed  with  the  advanced 
guard,  to  endeavour  to  open  a  communication  with 
them.  The  Indians  would,  however,  return  no 
answer  to  the  invitations  that  were  made  to  them 
for  that  purpose,  but  continued  to  insult  our  people 
by  their  gestures.  Within  about  three  miles  of  the 
town,  the  ground  became  broken  by  ravines  and 
covered  with  timber.  The  utmost  precaution  be 
came  necessary,  and  every  difficult  pass  was  exa 
mined  by  the  mounted  riflemen  before  the  army 
was  permitted  to  enter  it.  The  ground  being  unfit 
for  the  operation  of  the  squadron  of  dragoons,  they 
were  thrown  in  the  rear.  Through  the  whole 
march,  the  precaution  had  been  used  of  changing 
the  disposition  of  the  different  corps,  that  each 
might  have  the  ground  best  suited  to  its  operations. 
Within  about  two  miles  of  the  town,  the  path  de 
scended  a  steep  hill,  at  the  bottom  of  which  was  a 
small  creek  running  through  a  narrow  wet  prairie, 
and  beyond  this  a  level  plain  partially  covered 
with  oak  timber,  and  without  underbrush.  Before 
the  crossing  of  the  creek,  the  woods  were  very 
thick  and  intersected  by  deep  ravines.  No  place 
could  be  better  calculated  for  the  savages  to  attack 
12 


134  MEMOIR    OF 

with  a  prospect  of  success,  and  the  governor  appre 
hended,  that  the  moment  the  troops  descended  into 
the  hollow,  they  would  be  attacked.  A  disposition 
was  therefore  made  of  the  infantry  to  receive  the 
enemy  on  the  left  and  rear.  A  company  of  mounted 
riflemen  was  advanced  a  considerable  distance  from 
the  left  flank  to  check  the  approach  of  the  enemy  j 
and  the  other  two  companies  were  directed  to  turn 
the  enemy's  flanks,  should  he  attack  in  that  direc 
tion.  The  dragoons  were  ordered  to  move  rapidly 
from  the  rear,  and  occupy  the  plain  in  advance  of 
the  creek,  to  cover  the  crossing  of  the  army  from 
an  attack  in  front.  In  this  order  the  troops  were 
passed  over ;  the  dragoons  were  made  to  advance 
to  give  room  to  the  infantry,  and  the  latter  having 
crossed  the  creek,  were  formed  to  receive  the  enemy 
in  front  in  one  line,  with  a  reserve  of  three  compa 
nies — the  dragoons  flanked  by  mounted  riflemen 
forming  the  first  line.  During  all  this  time,  Indians 
were  frequently  seen  in  front  and  on  the  flanks. 
The  interpreters  endeavoured  in  vain  to  bring  them 
to  a  parley.  Though  sufficiently  near  to  hear  what 
was  said  to  them,  they  would  return  no  answer, 
but  continued  by  gestures  to  menace  and  insult 
those  who  addressed  them.  Being  now  arrived 
within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  town,  and  the  situ 
ation  being  favourable  for  an  encampment,  the  go 
vernor  determined  to  remain  there  and  fortify  his 
camp,  until  he  could  hear  from  the  friendly  chiefs, 


WILLIAM   HENRY   HARRISON.  135 

whom  he  had  dispatched  from  Fort  Harrison,  on 
the  day  he  had  left  it,  for  the  purpose  of  making 
another  attempt  to  prevent  the  recurrence  to  hos 
tilities.  These  chiefs  were  to  have  met  him  on  the 
way,  but  no  intelligence  was  yet  received  from 
them.  Whilst  he  was  engaged  in  tracing  out  the 
lines  of  the  encampment,  Major  Daviess  and  seve 
ral  other  field  officers  approached  him,  and  urged 
the  propriety  of  immediately  marching  upon  the 
town.  The  governor  answered  that  his  instructions 
would  not  justify  his  attacking  the  Indians,  as  long 
as  there  was  a  probability  of  their  complying  with 
the  demands  of  the  government,  and  that  he  still 
hoped  to  hear  something  in  the  course  of  the  even 
ing  from  the  friendly  Indians,  whom  he  had  dis 
patched  from  Fort  Harrison. 

"To  this  it  was  observed,  that  as  the  Indians 
seen  hovering  about  the  army  had  been  frequently 
invited  to  a  parley  by  the  interpreters,  who  had 
proceeded  some  distance  from  the  lines  for  the  pur 
pose  ;  and  as  these  overtures  had  universally  been 
answered  by  menace  and  insult,  it  was  very  evi 
dent  that  it  was  their  intention  to  fight ;  that  the 
troops  were  in  high  spirits  and  full  of  confidence ; 
and  that  advantage  ought  to  be  taken  of  their  ar 
dour  to  lead  them  immediately  to  the  enemy.  To 
this  the  governor  answered,  that  he  was  fully  sen 
sible  of  the  eagerness  of  the  troops ;  and  admitting 
the  determined  hostility  of  the  Indians,  and  that 


136  MEMOIR    OF 

their  insolence  was  full  evidence  of  their  intention 
to  fight,  yet  he  knew  them  too  well  to  believe 
that  they  would  ever  do  this  but  by  surprise,  or  on 
ground  which  was  entirely  favourable  to  their 
mode  of  fighting.  He  was  therefore  determined 
not  to  advance  with  the  troops,  until  he  knew  pre 
cisely  the  situation  of  the  town,  and  the  ground 
adjacent  to  it,  particularly  that  which  intervened 
between  it  and  the  place  where  the  army  then 
was — that  it  was  their  duty  to  fight  when  they 
came  in  contact  with  the  enemy — it  was  his  to 
take  care  that  they  should  not  engage  in  a  situation 
where  their  valour  would  be  useless,  and  where  a 
corps  upon  which  he  placed  great  reliance  would 
be  unable  to  act — that  the  experience  of  the  last 
two  hours  ought  to  convince  every  officer,  that  no 
reliance  should  be  placed  upon  the  guides,  as  to 
the  topography  of  the  country — that  relying  on 
their  information,  the  troops  had  been  led  into  a 
situation  so  unfavourable,  that  but  for  the  celerity 
with  which  they  changed  their  position,  a  few  In 
dians  might  have  destroyed  them  :  he  was  there 
fore  determined  not  to  advance  to  the  town,  until 
he  had  previously  reconnoitred,  either  in  person,  01 
by  some  one  on  whose  judgment  he  could  rely. 
Major  Daviess  immediately  replied,  that  from  the 
right  of  the  position  of  the  dragoons,  which  was 
still  in  front,  the  openings  made  by  the  low  grounds 
of  the  Wabash  could  be  seen ;  that  with  his  adju- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  137 

tant  D.  Floyd,  he  had  advanced  to  the  bank,  which 
descends  to  the  low  grounds,  and  had  a  fair  view 
of  the  cultivated  fields  and  the  houses  of  the  town ; 
and  that  the  open  woods,  in  which  the  troops  then 
were,  continued  without  interruption  to  the  town. 
Upon  this  information,  the  governor  said  he  would 
advance,  provided  he  could  get  any  proper  person 
to  go  to  the  town  with  a  flag.  Captain  T.  Dubois 
of  Vincennes  having  offered  his  services,  he  was 
dispatched  with  an  interpreter  to  the  prophet,  desir 
ing  to  know  whether  he  would  now  comply'  with 
the  terms  that  had  been  so  often  proposed  to  him. 
The  army  was  moved  slowly  after,  in  order  of  bat 
tle.  In  a  few  moments  a  messenger  came  from 
Captain  Dubois,  informing  the  governor,  that  the 
Indians  were  near  him  in  considerable  numbers, 
but  that  they  would  return  no  answer  to  the  inter 
preter,  although  they  were  sufficiently  near  to  hear 
what  was  said  to  them,  and  that  upon  his  advanc 
ing,  they  constantly  endeavoured  to  cut  him  off 
from  the  army.  Governor  Harrison,  deeming  this 
last  effort  to  open  a  negotiation,  sufficient  to  show 
his  wish  for  an  accommodation,  resolved  no  longer 
to  hesitate  in  treating  the  Indians  as  enemies.  He 
therefore  recalled  Captain  Dubois,  and  moved  on 
with  a  determination  to  attack  them.  He  had  not 
proceeded  far,  however,  before  he  was  met  by 
three  Indians,  one  of  them  a  principal  counsellor 
to  the  prophet.  They  were  sent,  they  said,  to 
12* 


138  MEBIOIB    OF 

know  why  the  army  was  advancing  upon  them — 
that  the  prophet  wished,  if  possible,  to  avoid  hos 
tilities  ;  that  he  had  sent  a  pacific  message  by  the 
Miami  and  Potawatamie  chiefs,  who  had  come  to 
him  on  the  part  of  the  governor — and  that  those 
chiefs  had  untbrtunately  gone  down  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Wabash. 

"  A  suspension  of  hostilities  was  accordingly 
agreed  upon  ;  and  a  meeting  was  to  take  place  the 
next  day  between  Harrison  a-nd  the  chiefs,  to  agree 
upon  the  terms  of  peace.  The  governor  further 
informed  them  that  he  would  go  on  to  the  Wabash, 
and  encamp  there  for  the  night.  Upon  marching 
a  short  distance  further,  he  came  in  view  of  the 
town,  which  was  seen  at  some  distance  up  the  river 
upon  a  commanding  eminence.  Major  Daviess  and 
Adjutant  Floyd  had  mistaken  some  scattering  houses 
in  the  fields  below,  for  the  town  itself.  The  ground 
below  the  town  being  unfavourable  for  an  encamp 
ment,  the  army  marched  on  in  the  direction  of  the 
town,  with  a  view  to  obtain  a  better  situation  be 
yond  it.  The  troops  were  in  an  order  of  march, 
calculated  by  a  single  conversion  of  companies,  to 
form  the  order  of  battle  which  it  had  last  assumed, 
the  dragoons  being  in  front.  This  corps,  however, 
soon  became  entangled  in  ground  covered  with 
brush  and  tops  of  fallen  trees.  A  halt  was  ordered, 
and  Major  Daviess  directed  to  change  position  with 
Spencer's  rifle  corps,  which  occupied  the  open  fields 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  139 

adjacent  to  the  river.  The  Indians  seeing  this  ma 
noeuvre,  at  the  approach  of  the  troops  towards  the 
town,  supposed  that  they  intended  to  attack  it,  and 
immediately  prepared  for  defence.  Some  of  them 
sallied  out,  and  called  to  the  advanced  corps  to  halt. 
The  governor,  upon  this,  rode  forward,  and  request 
ing  some  of  the  Indians  to  come  to  him,  assured 
them,  that  nothing  was  farther  from  his  thoughts 
than  to  attack  them — that  the  ground  below  the 
town  on  the  river  was  not  calculated  for  an  encamp 
ment,  and  that  it  was  his  intention  to  search  for  a 
better  one  above.  He  asked  if  there  was  any  other 
water  convenient  besides  that  which  the  river  af 
forded  ;  and  an  Indian  with  whom  he  was  well  ac 
quainted,  answered,  that  the  creek  which  had  been 
crossed  two  miles  back,  ran  through  the  prairie  to 
the  north  of  the  village.  A  halt  was  then  ordered, 
arid  some  officers  sent  back  to  examine  the  creek, 
as  well  as  the  river  above  the  town.  In  half  an 
hour,  Brigade  Major  Marston  Clarke  and  Major 
Waller  Taylor  returned,  and  reported  that  they  had 
found  on  the  creek  every  thing  that  could  be  de 
sirable  in  an  encampment — an  elevated  spot,  nearly 
surrounded  by  an  open  prairie,  with  water  conve 
nient,  and  a  sufficiency  of  wood  for  fuel. 

"An  idea  was  propagated  by  the  enemies  of 
Governor  Harrison,  after  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe, 
that  the  Indians  had  forced  him  to  encamp  on  a 
place  chosen  by  them  as  suitable  for  the  attack 


140  MEMOIR    OF 

they  intended.  The  place,  however,  was  chosen 
by  Majors  Taylor  and  Clarke,  after  examining  all 
the  environs  of  the  town ;  and  when  the  army  of 
General  Hopkins  was  there  in  the  following  year, 
they  all  united  in  the  opinion  that  a  better  spot  to 
resist  Indians  was  not  to  be  found  in  the  whole 
country. 

"  The  army  now  marched  to  the  place  selected, 
and  encamped,  late  in  the  evening,  on  a  dry  piece 
of  ground,  which  rose  about  ten  feet  above  the  level 
of  a  marshy  prairie  in  front  towards  the  town,  and 
about  twice  as  high  above  a  similar  prairie  in  the 
rear;  through  which,  near  the  bank,  ran  a  small 
stream  clothed  with  willows  and  brushwood.  On 
the  left  of  the  encampment,  this  bench  of  land  be 
came  wider;  on  the  right  it  gradually  narrowed, 
and  terminated  in  an  abrupt  point,  about  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  yards  from  the  right  flank.  The  two 
columns  of  infantry  occupied  the  front  and  rear. 
The  right  flank  being  about  eight  yards  wide,  was 
filled  with  Captain  Spencer's  company  of  eighty 
men.  The  left  flank,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  in  extent,  was  composed  of  three  companies 
of  mounted  riflemen,  under  General  Wells,  com 
manding  as  major." 

The  front  line  was  composed  of  one  battalion  of 
U.  S.  infantry,  under  Major  Floyd,  and  a  regiment 
of  Indiana  militia,  under  Colonel  Bartholomew. 
The  rear  line  consisted  of  a  battalion  of  U.  S.  in- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  141 

fantry,  under  Captain  Baen,  commanding  as  Major, 
and  four  companies  of  Indiana  volunteers,  under 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Decker.  The  right  flank  was 
composed  of  Spencer's  company  of  Indiana  volun 
teer  riflemen ;  the  left  flank  of  Robb's  company  of 
Indiana  volunteers,  and  Guiger's,  a  mixed  company 
of  Kentucky  and  Indiana  volunteers — a  portion  of 
U.  S.  troops  turning  the  left  front,  and  left  rear 
angles  respectively.  The  cavalry  under  Major 
Daviess  were  encamped  in  the  rear  of  the  front 
line,  and  left  flank,  and  held  in  reserve  as  a  dispo 
sable  force.  The  encampment  was  not  more  than 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  Indian  town. 

"  The  order  given  to  the  army,  in  the  event  of  a 
night  attack,  was  for  each  corps  to  maintain  its 
ground  at  all  hazards  till  relieved.  The  dragoons 
were  directed  in  such  case  to  parade  dismounted, 
with  their  swords  on  and  their  pistols  in  their  belts, 
and  to  wait  for  orders.  The  guard  for  the  night 
consisted  of  two  captains'  commands  of  twenty- four 
men  and  four  non-commissioned  officers ;  and  two 
subalterns'  guards  of  twenty  men  and  non-com 
missioned  officers — the  whole  under  the  command 
of  a  field  officer  of  the  day. 

"  On  the  night  of  the  6th  of  November,  the  troops 
went  to  rest,  as  usual,  with  their  clothes  and  accou 
trements  on,  and  their  arms  by  their  sides.  The 
officers  were  ordered  to  sleep  in  the  same  manner, 
and  it  was  the  governor's  invariable  practice  to  be 


142  MEMOIR    OP 

ready  to  mount  his  horse  at  a  moment's  warning, 
On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  he  arose  at  a  quarter 
before  four  o'clock,  and  sat  by  the  fire  conversing 
with  the  gentlemen  of  his  family,  who  were  reclin 
ing  on  their  blankets  waiting  for  the  signal,  which 
in  a  few  minutes  would  have  been  given,  for  the 
troops  to  turn  out.  The  orderly  drum  had  already 
been  roused  for  the  reveille.  The  moon  had  risen, 
but  afforded  little  light,  in  consequence  of  being 
overshadowed  by  clouds,  which  occasionally  dis 
charged  a  drizzling  rain.  At  this  moment  the 
attack  commenced. 

"  The  treacherous  Indians  had  crept  up  so  near 
the  sentries  as  to  hear  them  challenge  when  re 
lieved.  They  intended  to  rush  upon  the  sentries 
and  kill  them  before  they  could  fire ;  but  one  of 
them  discovered  an  Indian  creeping  towards  him 
in  the  grass,  and  fired.  This  was  immediately  fol 
lowed  by  the  Indian  yell,  and  a  desperate  charge 
npon  the  left  flank.  The  guard  in  that  quarter 
gave  way,  and  abandoned  their  officer  without 
making  any  resistance.  Captain  Barton's  company 
of  regulars,  and  Captain  Guiger's  company  of 
mounted  riflemen,  forming  the  left  angle  of  the 
rear  line,  received  the  first  onset.  The  fire  there 
was  excessive ;  but  the  troops  who  had  lain  on  their 
arms,  were  immediately  prepared  to  receive,  and 
had  gallantry  to  resist  the  furious  savage  assailants. 
The  manner  of  the  attack  was  calculated  to  discou* 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  143 

rage  and  terrify  the  men ;  yet  as  soon  as  they  could 
be  formed  and  posted,  they  maintained  their  ground 
with  desperate  valour,  though  but  few  of  them  had 
ever  before  been  in  battle.  The  fires  of  the  camp 
were  extinguished  immediately,  as  the  light  they 
afforded  was  more  serviceable  to  the  Indians  than 
to  our  men"-— except  those  opposite  Barton's  and 
Guiger's  companies*  which  the  suddenness  of  the 
attack  left  no  time  to  put  out. 

Upon  the  first  alarm  the  governor  mounted  his 
horse,  and  proceeded  towards  the  point  of  attack ; 
and  finding  the  line  much  weakened  there,  he  or 
dered  two  companies  from  the  centre  of  the  rear 
line  to  march  up,  and  form  across  the  angle  in  the 
rear  of  Barton's  and  Guiger's  companies.  In  pass 
ing  through  the  camp  towards  the  left  of  the  front 
line,  he  met  with  Major  Daviess,  who  informed 
him  that  the  Indians,  concealed  behind  some  trees- 
near  the  line,  were  annoying  the  troops  very  se 
verely  in  that  quarter,  and  requested  permission  to 
dislodge  them.  In  attempting  this  exploit  he  fell, 
mortally  wounded,  as  did  Colonel  Isaac  White  of 
Indiana,  who  acted  as  a  volunteer  in  his  troop. 

•'  In  the  mean  time  the  attack  on  Spencer's  and 
Warwick's  companies,  on  the  right,  became  very 
severe.  Captain  Spencer  and  his  lieutenants  were 
all  killed,  and  Captain  Warwick  was  mortally 
wounded.  The  governor,  in  passing  towards  that 
flank,  found  Captain  Robb's  company  near  the  cen* 


144  MEMOIR    OF 

tre  of  the  camp.  They  had  been  driven  from  their 
post;  or  rather,  had  "fallen  back  without  orders. 
He  led  them  to  the  aid  of  Captain  Spencer,  where 
they  fought  very  bravely,  having  seventeen  men 
killed  during  the  battle.  While  the  governor  was 
leading  this  company  into  action,  Colonel  Owen, 
his  aid,  was  killed  at  his  side.  This  gallant  officer 
was  mounted  on  a  very  white  horse,  and  as  the 
governor  had  ridden  a  grey  on  the  day  before,  it  is 
probable  that  Owen  was  mistaken  for  him,  as  it  is 
certain  that  he  was  killed  by  one  of  the  only  In 
dians  who  broke  through  the  lines,  and  who  are 
supposed  to  have  resolved  to  sacrifice  themselves 
in  an  attempt  to  insure  victory  by  killing  the  com- 
mander-in-chief.  The  governor  happened  not  to  be 
mounted  on  his  own  grey ;  his  servant  had  acci 
dentally  tied  that  animal  apart  from  the  other 
horses  belonging  to  the  general  staff,  and  in  the 
confusion  occasioned  by  the  attack,  not  being  able 
to  find  this  horse  as  quickly  as  was  desirable,  the 
governor  mounted  another. 

"  Captain  Prescott's  company  of  U.  S.  infantry 
had  filled  up  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  retreat  of 
Robb's  company.  Soon  after  Daviess  was  wounded. 
Captain  Snelling,  by  order  of  the  governor,  charged 
upon  the  same  Indians,  and  dislodged  them  with 
considerable  loss.  The  battle  was  now  maintained 
on  all  sides  with  desperate  valour.  The  Indians 
advanced  and  retreated  by  a  rattling  noise  made 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  145 

with  deer  hoofs :  they  fought  with  enthusiasm,  and 
seemed  determined  on  victory  or  death." 

When  the  day  dawned,  Captain  Snelling's  com 
pany,  Captain  Posey's  under  Lieutenant  Allbright,, 
Captain  Scott's,  and  Captain  Wilson's,  were  drawn 
from  the  rear,  and  formed  on  the  left  flank ;  while 
Cook's  and  Baen's  companies  were  ordered  to  the 
right.  General  Wells  was  ordered  to  take  com 
mand  of  the  corps  formed  on  the  left,  and  with  the 
aid  of  some  dragoons,  who  were  now  mounted, 
and  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Wallace,  to  charge 
the  enemy  in  that  direction,  which  he  did  success 
fully — driving  them  into  a  swamp  through  which 
the  cavalry  could  not  pursue  them.  "At  the  same 
time  Cook's  and  Lieutenant  Larrabe's  companies 
with  the  aid  of  the  riflemen  and  militia  on  the  right 
flank,  charged  the  Indians  and  put  them  to  flight  in 
that  quarter,  which  terminated  the  battle." 

"  During  the  time  of  the  contest,  the  prophet 
kept  himself  secure  on  an  adjacent  eminence,  sing 
ing  a  war-song.  He  had  told  his  followers  that 
the  Great  Spirit  would  render  the  army  of  the 
Americans  unsuccessful,  and  that  their  bullets 
would  not  hurt  the  Indians,  who  would  have  light, 
while  their  enemies  would  be  involved  in  thick 
darkness.  Soon  after  the  battle  commenced,  he 
was  informed  that  his  men  were  falling.  He  told 
them  to  fight  on,  it  would  soon  be  as  he  had  pre 
dicted,  and  then  began  to  sing  louder." 
13 


146  MEMOIR   OF 

Tecumthe  was  not  present  at  this  engagement. 
He  was  absent  from  his  people,  on  a  visit  to  the 
southern  tribes,  whom  he  was  endeavouring  to 
unite  in  the  league  he  was  attempting  to  form 
against  the  United  States. 

The  battle  of  Tippecanoe  gave  rise  to  much  dis 
cussion.  Some  were  found  who  censured  Governor 
Harrison,  and  a  few  claimed  a  part  of  the  glory  of 
the  day  for  Colonel  Boyd.  The  discontented,  how- 
ever,  were  chiefly  those  who  were  opposed  to  the 
war,  and  who,  from  party  feelings,  denounced  as 
well  the  acts  of  the  administration,  as  those  of  the 
officers  appointed  to  carry  them  into  effect.  Mr. 
Harrison's  well-known  republican  principles,  his 
attachment  to  Mr.  Madison,  his  high  standing,  and 
the  zeal  with  which  he  seconded  the  views  of  the 
government,  all  conspired  to  render  him  a  mark  for 
party  detraction.  Time  has  silenced  those  idle 
rumours,  and  the  laurels  of  the  hero  are  now 
brightened  by  the  gratitude  and  admiration  of  his 
country.  The  field  of  Tippecanoe  has  become 
classic  ground ;  the  American  traveller  pauses  there 
to  contemplate  a  scene  which  has  become  hallowed 
by  victory ;  the  people  of  Indiana  contemplate  with 
pride  the  battle-ground  on  which  their  militia  won 
imperishable  honour,  and  their  infant  state  became 
enrolled  in  the  ranks  of  patriotism. 

But  the  handsome  manner  in  which  all  the  offi 
cers  who  served  in  that  engagement  have  since 


WILLIAM    HITNRY    HARRISON.  147 

testified  to  the  coolness,  self-possession,  and  intre 
pidity  of  the  general,  has  placed  this  matter  in  itf" 
proper  light.  As  far  as  any  commander  is  entitled 
to  credit,  independent  of  his  army,  he  merits,  and 
has  received  it.  He  shared  every  danger  and  fatigue 
to  which  his  army  was  exposed.  In  the  battle,  he 
was  in  more  peril  than  any  other  individual ;  for 
he  was  personally  known  to  every  Indian,  and  ex 
posed  himself  fearlessly,  on  horseback,  at  all  the 
points  of  attack,  during  the  whole  engagement. 
Every  important  movement  was  made  by  his  ex 
press  order. 

The  Kentucky  legislature,  notwithstanding  the 
gloom  which  was  spread  over  the  state  by  the  un 
timely  loss  of  some  of  her  most  cherished  and  gal 
lant  sons,  took  an  early  opportunity  of  testifying 
their  approbation,  by  the  following  resolution  : — 

"  Resolved,  That  in  the  late  campaign  against 
the  Indians  on  the  Wabash,  Governor  W.  H.  Har 
rison  has,  in  the  opinion  of  this  legislature,  behaved 
like  a  hero,  a  patriot,  and  a  general ;  and  that  for 
his  cool,  deliberate,  skilful,  and  gallant  conduct,  in 
the  late  battle  of  Tippecanoe,  he  deserves  the  warm 
est  thanks  of  the  nation." 

The  legislature  of  Indiana,  also,  passed  compli 
mentary  resolutions,  in  which  the  "  superior  capa 
city,"  «<  integrity,"  and  "  important  services"  of 
the  go  *»rnor,  are  recognized  in  the  most  grateful 
-yhile  the  militia  who  were  in  the  engage- 


148 


MEMOIR    OF 


ment,  at  a  meeting  held  after  their  return,  unani 
mously  expressed  their  confidence  in  their  leader, 
the  cheerfulness  with  which  they  had  followed  him, 
and  the  opinion  that  their  success  was  attributable 
"  to  his  masterly  conduct  in  the  direction  and  ma 
noeuvring  of  the  troops." 

In  1816,  a  work  was  published  at  Keene,  in 
New-Hampshire,  entitled  "  A  Journal  of  two  cam 
paigns  of  the  4th  regiment  of  United  States  infantry, 
by  Adam  Walker,  a  private  in  the  4th  regiment." 
At  the  thirty-first  page  of  this  book  are  found  the 
following  remarks,  which  form  the  conclusion  of 
Mr.  Walker's  account  of  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe. 
They  were  written  by  a  person  with  whom  Gene 
ral  Harrison  had  no  acquaintance,  and  who  doubt 
less  expressed  the  opinion  of  the  common  soldiers 
of  that  army. 

"  General  Harrison  received  a  shot  through  the 
rim  of  his  hat.  In  the  heat  of  the  action  his  voice 
was  frequently  heard,  and  easily  distinguished, 
giving  his  orders  in  the  same  calm,  cool,  and  col 
lected  manner,  with  which  we  had  been  used  to 
receive  them  on  drill  or  parade.  The  confidence 
of  the  troops  in  the  general  was  unlimited." 

Again  he  remarks,  in  speaking  of  a  small  portion 
of  the  militia  who  became  dissatisfied  by  being  de 
tained  from  home  longer  than  they  had  expected : 
*'  He  appeared  not  disposed  to  detain  any  man 
against  his  inclination ;  being  endowed  by  nature 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  149 

\vith  a  heart  as  humane  as  brave,  in  his  frequent 
addresses  to  the  militia,  his  eloquence  was  formed 
to  persuade ;  appeals  were  made  to  reason  as  well 
as  feeling,  and  never  were  they  made  in  vain." 

On  the  night  preceding  the  morning  of  the  bat 
tle,  a  negro  man,  who  was  among  the  followers 
of  the  camp,  but  had  been  missed  from  his  duty, 
was  found  lurking  near  the  governor's  marquee, 
and  arrested.  A  drum-head  court-martial  was 
called  for  his  trial  the  next  morning,  of  which 
Colonel  Boyd  was  president,  and  the  prisoner  was 
convicted  of  having  deserted  to  the  enemy,  under 
circumstances  which  led  to  the  belief  that  he  was 
engaged  in  a  plan  against  the  governor's  life,  and 
had  returned  secretly  into  camp  for  that  purpose. 
The  sentence  was  that  the  prisoner  was  guilty,  and 
should  suffer  death.  The  sentence  was  approved, 
and  it  was  intended  that  it  should  be  carried  into 
execution  in  one  hour.  But  the  troops  were  en 
gaged  in  fortifying  the  camp,  and  could  not  be 
called  off  to  witness  the  execution,  and  he  was  at 
last  saved  by  the  benevolence  of  the  governor.  The 
reasons  for  this  lenity,  as  described  by  himself  in 
a  letter  to  Governor  Scott  of  Kentucky,  do  great 
honour  to  his  heart : — "  The  fact  was  that  I  began 
to  pity  him,  and  I  could  not  screw  myself  up  to  the 
point  of  giving  the  fatal  order.  If  he  had  been  out 
of  my  sight,  he  would  have  been  executed.  But 
when  he  was  first  taken,  General  Wells  and  Colo- 
13* 


150  MEMOIR    OF 

nel  Owen,  who  were  old  Indian  fighters,  as  we  had 
no  irons  to  put  on  him,  had  secured  him  after  the 
Indian  fashion.  This  is  done  by  throwing  a  per 
son  on  his  back,  splitting  a  log  and  cutting  notches 
in  it  to  receive  the  ankles,  then  replacing  the  sev 
ered  parts,  and  compressing  them  together  with 
forks,  driven  over  the  log  into  the  ground.  The 
arms  are  extended  and  tied  to  stakes  secured  in  the 
same  manner.  The  situation  of  a  person  thus 
placed,  is  as  uneasy  as  can  possibly  be  conceived. 
The  poor  wretch  thus  confined  lay  before  my  fire, 
his  face  receiving  the  rain  that  occasionally  fell, 
and  his  eyes  constantly  turned  upon  me,  as  if  im 
ploring  mercy.  I  could  not  withstand  the  appeal, 
and  I  determined  to  give  him  another  chance  for 
his  life.  I  had  all  the  commissioned  officers  assem 
bled,  and  told  them  that  his  fate  depended  upon 
them.  Some  were  for  executing  him,  and  I  believe 
that  a  majority  would  have  been  against  him,  but 
for  the  interference  of  the  gallant  Snelling.  'Brave 
comrades,'  said  he,  *  let  us  save  him.  The  wretch 
deserves  to  die  ;  but  as  our  commander,  whose  life 
was  more  particularly  his  object,  is  willing  to  spare 
him,  let  us  also  forgive  him.  I  hope,  at  least,  that 
every  officer  of  the  4th  regiment  will  be  on  the  side 
of  mercy.'  Snelling  prevailed ;  and  Ben  was  brought 
to  this  place,  where  he  was  discharged." 

This  simple  account  of  the  motives  which  influ 
enced  Governor  Harrison  in  the  performance  of  an 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  151 

act  of  magnanimous  lenity,  needs  little  comment 
from  his  biographer.  It  shows  a  heart  warm  with 
the  finest  feelings  of  humanity,  and  is  in  consonance 
with  the  whole  tenor  of  his  life,  in  which  we  find 
no  act  of  irascible  precipitation,  military  violence, 
or  selfish  revenge.  The  commander-in-chief  of  an 
army  was  net  exalted  so  high  in  his  own  estima 
tion,  as  to  forget  the  feelings  of  the  man  ;  and  he 
could  pity  the  wretchedness  of  a  poor  negro, 
though  that  negro  was  an  assassin  employed  by 
savages  to  take  his  life. 

It  appeared  afterwards  that  another  plan  for  his 
assassination  had  been  laid  by  the  prophet.  Two 
Winnebago  Indians  had  engaged  to  execute  this 
detestable  plan.  A  council  was  to  have  been  held 
with  the  governor,  attended  with  all  the  usual  forms. 
The  prophet  and  his  chief  men  were  to  concede  all 
disputed  points,  and  the  suspicion  of  the  Americans 
lulled  by  submission.  The  two  bravoes,  who  had 
devoted  themselves  to  death,  were  to  rush  upon  the 
governor  at  an  unguarded  moment,  and  instantly 
dispatch  him.  At  this  signal,  the  warriors  were 
to  rush  from  an  ambuscade,  and  raising  the  terrific 
war-whoop,  to  attack  our  army  during  the  confu 
sion  and  dismay  occasioned  by  the  loss  of  its  com 
mander.  Had  this  plan  been  persevered  in,  the 
governor  would  probably  have  fallen,  whatever 
might  have  been  the  fate  of  the  army.  But  it  was 
probably  too  daring  for  the  genius  of  the  prophet, 


152  MEMOIR    OP 

who,  when  he  came  to  take  counsel  of  his  pillow, 
might  have  reflected  that  his  own  person  would  be 
exposed  in  its  execution.  On  the  night  preceding 
the  day  when  this  plan  was  to  have  been  put  in 
action,  he  suddenly  changed  his  mind,  and  ordered 
the  attack,  telling  his  men  that  the  Great  Spirit  had 
appeared  to  him  and  promised  him  success — and 
Ben,  the  negro,  was  sent  into  camp  to  murder  the 
governor  before  the  attack,  or  at  its  commence 
ment. 

The  battle  of  Tippecanoe  was  one  of  the  most 
decisive  engagements  that  ever  was  fought  between 
the  Indians  and  the  whites.  The  numbers  on  either 
side  were  nearly  equal ;  the  place  and  time  of  at 
tack  were  chosen  by  the  Indians,  who  were  the 
assailants ;  and  who  not  only  sought  to  surprise 
our  troops,  but  fought  with  an  audacity  unprece 
dented  in  the  annals  of  savage  warfare.  Laying 
aside  the  usual  cunning  and  caution  of  their  pecu 
liar  system  of  tactics,  which  teaches  them  to  avoid 
exposure,  and  to  strike  by  stealth,  they  boldly  rushed 
upon  the  American  troops,  and  fought  hand  to  hand 
with  the  most  desperate  ferocity.  They  were  not 
only  completely  beaten,  but  their  loss  was  unusually 
great. 

The  high  sense  entertained  by  the  government 
of  the  importance  of  this  victory,  is  emphatically 
expressed  in  a  message  from  the  President  to  Con 
gress,  dated  December  18,  1811.  "While  it  is 


WILLIAM    HENRYT    HARRISON.  153 

deeply  to  be  lamented,"  says  Mr.  Madison,  "  that 
so  many  valuable  lives  have  been  lost  in  the  action 
which  took  place  on  the  9th  ult.,  Congress  will  see 
with  satisfaction  the  dauntless  spirit  and  fortitude 
victoriously  displayed  by  every  description  of 
troops  engaged,  as  well  as  the  collected  firmness 
which  distinguished  their  commander,  on  an  occa 
sion  requiring  the  utmost  exertion  of  valour  and 
discipline." 

It  was  no  mean  achievement  which  could  extort 
from  the  justice  of  the  mild  and  upright  Madison,  a 
compliment  expressed  in  terms  of  such  decided  ap 
probation. 

The  immediate  results  of  this  gallant  victory 
were  highly  honourable  to  the  commander-in-chief, 
and  beneficial  to  the  country.  The  frontier  became 
quiet;  the  farmer  resumed  his  labours,  and  the  mo 
ther  could  press  her  infant  to  her  bosom,  without 
shuddering  at  the  thought  of  the  moment  when  its 
blood  might  be  shed  in  her  presence.  As  the 
intelligence  spread  rapidly  from  tribe  to  tribe,  the 
terror  of  our  arms  pervaded  the  Indian  country, 
and  the  numerous  warriors  of  that  wide  region  of 
wilderness  assembled  hastily  around  their  respec 
tive  council-fires,  to  deliberate  on  the  measures 
which  policy  might  dictate  in  such  a  crisis.  Some 
of  the  tribes  had  openly,  and  others  secretly,  par 
ticipated  in  the  hostile  schemes  of  Tecumthe  and 
the  prophet ;  while  others  had  stood  aloof,  awaiting 


154  MEMOIR    OP 

the  issue  of  the  approaching  contest,  and  prepared 
to  congratulate  the  party  which  might  prove  victo 
rious.  Had  Harrison  been  beaten,  the  triumphant 
bands  of  Tecumthe,  reinforced  by  tribes  hitherto 
neutral,  would  have  been  poured  upon  the  settle 
ments,  the  tomahawk  would  have  been  bathed  in 
blood,  and  the  whole  frontier  have  been  lighted 
up  with  the  dreadful  glare  of  the  conflagration. 
The  decisive  blow  which  Harrison  had  struck 
against  the  Indian  power,  at  once  determined  the 
doubts  of  the  wavering,  and  quelled  the  rising  spirit 
of  the  discontented.  As  far  as  it  was  possible  to 
impress  the  minds  of  these  fickle  barbarians,  the 
impression  was  made;  and  the  goveinor  was  soon 
apprised  that  his  bayonets  had  produced  a  deep  and 
salutary  conviction,  which  the  admonitions  of  years 
had  failed  to  inculcate.  Deputations  from  a  num 
ber  of  tribes  waited  upon  him,  to  disclaim  all  con 
nexion  with  Tecumthe,  to  profess  their  unaltered 
friendship  towards  our  government,  and  to  depre 
cate  the  consequences  of  the  delusion  which  led  to 
the  recent  conflict. 

The  conduct  of  these  deputies  was  entirely  dif 
ferent  from  that  of  the  chiefs  and  warriors,  who  had 
formerly  met  the  governor  in  council ;  submission 
and  respect  were  now  substituted  for  the  insolence 
which  had  on  some  previous  occasions  marked 
their  deportment.  In  February,  1812,  the  gover 
nor  received  intelligence  that  eighty  Indians,  depu- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  155 

ties  from  all  the  tribes  who  were  engaged  in  the 
lafe  hostilities,  except  the  Shawanese,  had  arrived 
at  Fort  Harrison,  on  their  way  to  Vincennes.  He 
immediately  sent  a  messenger  to  meet  them,  to 
inquire  the  reason  of  their  coming  in  so  large  a 
body,  and  to  propose  to  them  to  send  back  all  but 
a  few  chiefs  from  each  tribe,  or  that  the  whole 
band  should  come  unarmed.  This  step  he  adopted 
in  consequence  of  a  private  notice,  which  intimated 
the  existence  of  a  treacherous  design  against  his 
person.  On  the  arrival  of  the  deputies,  however 
they  delivered  up  their  arms  without  the  slightest 
hesitation ;  and  evinced,  in  every  particular,  the 
subdued  deportment  of  men  who  had  been  taught 
to  respect  the  talents  and  power  of  him  with  whom 
they  came  to  treat. 


156  MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Declaration  of  War — Its  effect  on  the  West — 
Harrison  called  into  service  by  the  people — 
Volunteers  from  Kentucky. 

THE  deceptive  calm  which  succeeded  the  battle 
of  Tippecanoe,  was  not  of  long  continuance.  The 
Indians  were  awed,  but  not  conciliated.  The  ap 
proaching  war  between  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain  revived  their  appetite  for  plunder,  and  Te- 
cumthe  renewed  his  intrigues  with  greater  activity 
than  ever.  The  Indians  again  commenced  their 
bloody  system  of  border  warfare,  and  many  depre 
dations  were  committed  on  the  borders  of  Ohio, 
Indiana,  and  Illinois,  at  points  so  far  distant  from 
each  other,  as  to  distract  public  attention,  and  cre 
ate  an  universal  panic.  As  the  murders  became 
more  frequent,  and  more  aggravated  by  the  cruel 
ties  which  attended  their  perpetration,  the  alarm 
increased,  until  the  whole  frontier  became  an  ex 
tensive  scene  of  dismay  and  suffering  :  the  labours 
of  husbandry  were  suspended,  families  deserted 
their  homes  and  sought  safety  in  flight,  and  the 
governor  found  himself  surrounded  by  fugitives 
claiming  protection,  and  by  sufferers  demanding 


WILLIAM    HENRY   HARRISON.  157 

vengeance.  We  pass  over  all  these  events  with  the 
remark,  that  Governor  Harrison  exerted  his  usual  ac 
tivity  in  placing  the  country  in  the  best  posture  for 
defence,  in  meeting  the  enemy  at  every  point  where 
it  was  possible  to  anticipate  their  approach,  and  in 
affording  to  the  defenceless  inhabitants  that  protec 
tion  which  was  dictated  as  well  by  a  high  sense  of 
official  responsibility,  as  by  the  native  benevolence 
of  his  disposition. 

On  the  18th  of  June,  1812,  war  was  declared 
against  Great  Britain.  The  effect  of  this  measure 
upon  the  western  people  has  never  been  sufficiently 
appreciated ;  nor  have  their  patriotism,  their  sacri 
fices,  and  their  sufferings,  received  the  full  measure 
of  applause  to  which  they  are  justly  entitled. 
Though  more  exposed  than  most  of  their  fellow- 
citizens,  none  received  the  intelligence  of  the  decla 
ration  of  war  with  such  enthusiasm,  or  entered  into 
the  contest  with  more  cheerful  gallantry.  While 
some  of  those  whose  homes  were  safe  from  inva 
sion,  and  who  risked  nothing  by  the  contest,  but 
the  profits  of  an  advantageous  traffic,  were  bitterly 
denouncing  the  government,  the  western  people, 
whose  borders  became  the  seat  of  a  war  with  an 
enemy  as  unsparing  as  their  own  savage  allies,  and 
whose  families  were  exposed  to  all  its  horrors, 
cheerfully  acquiesced  in  that  decision  which  put  in 
jeopardy  all  that- they  held  most  dear.  Instead  of 
murmuring  at  an  act  of  Congress  which  was  to 
14 


158  MEMOIR    OF 

bring  the  desolation  of  the  firebrand  and  the  toma 
hawk  to  their  firesides,  they  indignantly  spurned 
from  office  those  few  of  their  representatives,  who, 
preferring  security  to  honour,  advocated  weaker 
counsels.  The  popularity  of  the  war  was  such, 
that  the  whole  mass  of  the  able-bodied  population 
was  ready,  if  required,  to  take  the  field.  The 
wealthiest,  the  most  influential,  the  most  highly 
gifted  in  talent,  were  prepared  to  serve  in  the  ranks 
of  patriotism.  The  battle  for  independence  was 
again  to  be  fought,  and  they  were  eager  to  emu 
late,  by  deeds  of  peril,  the  stern  republican  virtues 
of  their  venerated  forefathers. 

No  sooner  was  war  declared,  than  the  western 
governors  proceeded  with  alacrity  to  place  their 
respective  states  and  territories  in  a  posture  for  de 
fence,  and  to  call  out  volunteers  for  distant  opera 
tions.  It  is  no  small  evidence  of  the  confidence 
reposed  in  the  talents,  military  skill,  and  patriotism 
of  Governor  Harrison,  that  at  a  time  when  all  were 
willing  to  serve,  and  when  the  best  abilities  of  this 
region  might  have  been  put  in  requisition,  he  was 
the  man  to  whom  the  whole  people  of  the  west 
looked  as  their  leader,  in  whose  hands  they  were 
willing  to  confide  the  protection  of  their  families, 
property,  and  honour,  and  who  was  immediately 
placed,  almost  by  acclamation,  at  the  head  of  their 
armies. 

The  records  of  those  times,  too  voluminous  to  be 


WILLIAM   HENRY    HARRISON.  159 

repeated  here,  show  how  justly  that  deserving  pa 
triot  had  earned  the  popularity  which  he  enjoyed. 
His  indefatigable  exertions  had  not  ceased  with  the 
victory  at  Tippecanoe.  The  interval  between  that 
time  and  the  declaration  of  war,  had  been  improved 
by  him  in  preparing  for  the  approaching  contest, — 
in  consulting  with  the  governor  of  Kentucky  with 
regard  to  the  employment  of  the  militia  of  that 
state,  in  assisting  Governor  Edwards  to  place  the 
exposed  frontier  of  Illinois  in  a  posture  for  defence, 
and  in  pointing  out  to  the  general  government  the 
weak  places  that  would  be  endangered  by  the 
breaking  out  of  hostilities. 

Shortly  after  war  was  declared,  Governor  Har 
rison  received  a  letter  from  Governor  Scott  of  Ken 
tucky,  in  which  the  latter  earnestly  requested  a 
conference  in  relation  to  the  disposition  of  the  Ken 
tucky  troops,  who  were  destined  to  protect  the 
frontiers.  Governor  Harrison  immediately  went 
to  Frankfort,  where  he  was  received  with  public 
honours.  The  militia  was  paraded,  and  the  gover 
nor  of  Kentucky  received  him  in  person,  at  the 
head  of  the  troops,  amid  the  firing  of  cannon,  and 
the  acclamations  of  the  people.  Such  was  the  dis 
tinguished  rank  which  even  then  he  held  among 
the  citizens  of  the  west.  He  remained  at  Frankfort 
several  days,  diligently  engaged  in  council,  giving 
all  the  energies  of  his  active  mind  to  the  maturing 
of  those  plans  on  which  the  lives  and  property  of 


160  MEMOIR    OF 

his  fellow-citizens  depended.  During  this  visit  to 
Kentucky,  .an  incident  occurred,  which  is  thus  re 
corded  in  the  valuable  biography  of  Harrison  by 
Mr.  Dawson  : — 

"  Governor  Harrison  dined  in  Lexington,  with  a 
large  party  of  gentlemen  of  that  town  and  its  vicini 
ty,  all  of  them  ardent  friends  to  the  war ;  the  conver 
sation  turning  upon  the  north-western  campaign,  and 
the  governor  delivering  his  sentiments,  similar  to 
those  contained  in  the  letter,  (afterwards  written,) 
the  company  were  so  struck  with  the  justice  of  his 
remarks,  that  he  was  urged  to  communicate  them 
to  the  Secretary  of  War.  To  this  he  objected,  on 
the  ground  that  it  might  be  considered  as  interfer 
ing  with  matters  which  were  foreign  to  his  own 
duty,  which  was  confined  to  the  defence  of  the  ter 
ritories ;  but  being  assured  by  Mr.  Clay,  one  of 
the  party,  who  is  always  alive  to  the  true  interests 
and  honour  of  his  country,  that  it  would  be  well 
received  by  the  government,  the  letter  was  written." 

In  this  letter,  besides  suggesting  a  system  of 
operations,  in  which  the  writer  display^  an  inti 
mate  acquaintance,  as  well  with  the  military  art, 
as  with  the  actual  posture  of  affairs  throughout  the 
whole  western  frontier,  he  evinces  the  sagacity  of 
a  strong  and  penetrating  mind,  by  predicting  events 
which,  unhappily  for  the  country,  had  not  been  an 
ticipated  by  the  government. 

"  If  it  were  certain,"  he  writes,  "  that  General 


WILLIAM    HENRY   HARRISON.  161 

Hull  would  be  able,  even  with  the  reinforcement 
which  is  now  about  to  be  sent  to  him,  to  reduce 
Maiden  and  retake  Macinac,  there  would  be  no  ne 
cessity  of  sending  other  troops  in  that  direction. 
But  I  greatly  fear  that  the  capture  of  Macinac  will 
give  such  eclat  to  the  British  and  Indian  arms,  that 
the  northern  tribes  will  pour  down  in  swarms  upon 
Detroit,  oblige  General  Hull  to  act  entirety  upon 
the  defensive,  and  meet,  and  perhaps  overpower, 
the  convoys  and  reinforcements  which  may  be  sent 
him.  It  appears  to  me,  indeed,  highly  probable 
that  the  large  detachment  which  is  now  destined 
for  his  relief,  under  Colonel  Wells,  will  have  to 
fight  its  way.  I  rely  greatly  upon  the  valour  of 
those  troops,  but  it  is  possible  that  the  event  may 
be  adverse  to  us,  and  if  it  is,  Detroit  must  fall, 
and  with  it  every  hope  of  re-establishing  our  affairs 
hi  that  quarter  until  the  next  year."  Again,  he 
says :  "  There  are  other  considerations  which 
strongly  recommend  the  adoption  of  this  measure. 
I  mean  the  situation  of  Chicago,  which  must  be  in 
danger,  and  if  it  is  not  well  supplied  with  provi 
sions,  the  danger  must  be  imminent." 

This  letter  was  written  on  the  10th  of  August; 
on  the  15th  Chicago  was  taken,  and  the  mortifying 
intelligence  of  the  fall  of  Detroit,  soon  after,  filled 
the  breast  of  every  patriot  with  indignant  sorrow. 

Thus  far  we  have  seen  Governor  Harrison  act 
ing  as  a  civil  officer,  and  only  engaging  in  military 
14* 


162  MEMOIR    OF 

affairs  when  engaged  in  defence  of  his  own  terri 
tory,  in  his  executive  capacity.  We  shall  now  fol 
low  him  to  that  brilliant  theatre  on  which  his  brow 
became  crowned  with  imperishable  laurels,  and  his 
name  associated  with  those  of  our  most  illustrious 
warriors.  He  became  commander-in-chief  of  the 
north-western  army,  under  circumstances  as  re 
markable,  as  they  were  honourable  to  him,  to  his 
fellow-citizens,  and  to  the  appointing  power.  He 
was  called  to  that  responsible  station  by  the  voice 
of  the  people,  who  in  the  hour  of  danger  selected 
him  as  the  individual  in  whose  capacity  and  pa 
triotism  they  had  most  confidence,  and  whom  they 
esteemed  most  worthy  to  be  entrusted  to  lead  them 
to  the  field. 

The  war  had  now  commenced.  Macinac  and 
Chicago  had  been  taken  by  the  enemy,  and  De 
troit,  the  most  important  of  the  north-western  posts, 
was  threatened  by  the  combined  British  and  Indian 
force.  The  fall  of  this  place,  and  the  capture  of 
the  army  of  Hull,  would  leave  the  whole  frontier 
exposed — the  vast  region  including  western  Penn 
sylvania,  Ohio,  Michigan,  Indiana,  Illinois,  and 
Missouri,  would  be  at  the  mercy  of  a  remorseless 
foe. 

The  most  active  preparations  were  making  in 
Ohio  and  Kentucky,  to  avert  a  catastrophe  which 
must  lead  to  such  complete  and  wide-spread  deso 
lation.  The  governor  of  Ohio,  as  soon  as  advised 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  163 

of  the  precarious  situation  of  the  army  of  Hull, 
ordered  twelve  hundred  militia  to  be  embodied, 
and  marched  to  Urbana,  under  Brigadier  General 
Lupper.  The  governor  of  Kentucky  had  organized 
five  thousand  five  hundred  men,  who  were  waiting 
for  orders.  Two  thousand  of  these  were  ordered 
to  rendezvous  in  Georgetown,  to  be  placed  under 
the  orders  of  Brigadier  General  John  Payne  for 
immediate  duty.  Never  did  the  patriotism  of  Ken 
tucky  shine  more  conspicuously  than  on  this  occa 
sion.  These  citizens  were  not  drafted  unwillingly 
into  the  service — they  were  volunteers  who  offered 
themselves  cheerfully  to  their  country.  The  ranks 
were  filled  by  men  of  every  grade  in  life — young 
men  of  high  promise,  farmers  who  forsook  com 
fortable  homes,  mechanics  who  threw  aside  their 
occupations,  and  professional  gentlemen  who  left 
their  books  and  their  practice,  to  brave  the  fatigues 
of  the  wilderness.  The  officers  were  gentlemen 
of  high  estimation  for  talents  and  private  worth — 
among  them  were  such  men  as  Colonels  John  Allen 
and  Martin  D.  Hardin,  who  stood  among  the  fore 
most  at  the  bar — Major  George  Madison,  who  was 
auditor  of  public  accounts  of  the  state — Colonels 
Scott  and  Lewis,  who  were  experienced  in  Indian 
warfare — Captain  John  Simpson,  who  had  been 
speaker  of  the  house  of  representatives  in  Kentucky, 
and  was  now  a  member  elect  to  Congress — and  the 
Rev.  Samuel  Shannon,  who  volunteered  as  a  chap- 


164  MEMOIR    OP 

lain.  This  venerable  divine  had  left  Princeton 
College  in  the  early  part  of  the  revolution,  to  enter 
as  a  lieutenant  in  the  army,  in  which  he  served 
throughout  the  war.  Again,  when  the  liberties  of 
his  country  were  threatened,  he  stepped  forward, 
and  at  an  advanced  age  threw  himself  into  the 
ranks  of  patriotism. 

On  the  16th  of  August  the  troops  were  reviewed 
by  Governor  Scott;  they  were  addressed  by  the 
Rev.  James  Blythe,  President  of  Transylvania  Uni 
versity,  and  afterwards  by  Henry  Clay.  At  the 
very  moment  when  the  dastardly  Hull  was  con 
summating  an  act  of  unparalleled  meanness,  by 
surrendering  an  important  post,  and  a  gallant  army, 
without  striking  a  blow  for  the  honour  of  our  flag 
— the  unrivalled  orator  of  Kentucky  was  pouring 
out  those  strains  of  fervid  eloquence,  which  would 
have  kindled  up  the  latent  spark  of  courage  in  bo 
soms  less  generous  than  those  to  which  he  appeal 
ed,  and  to  which  the  sons  of  the  hardy  pioneers 
responded  in  bursts  of  patriotic  enthusiasm.  These 
troops  were  then  marched  to  Newport,  and  Cincin 
nati. 

Such  was  the  spirit  of  the  west — such  were  the 
men  over  whom  Harrison  was  called  to  take  com 
mand  ;  and  we  utter  no  extravagant  compliment  in 
saying,  that  when  the  best  blood,  the  best  muscle, 
the  best  talents  of  the  country,  were  in  the  field,  it 
was  no  small  proof  of  merit  to  be  selected  to  take 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  165 

the  chief  command  of  an  army  composed  of  such 
materials. 

The  manner  in  which  the  selection  of  General 
Harrison  was  made,  and  the  reasons  which  induced 
his  appointment,  are  thus  recorded  by  M'Affee,  an 
intelligent  Kentuckian,  who  was  an  actor  in  these 
stirring  scenes,  and  has  since  risen  to  high  distinc 
tion  in  civil  office. 

"  A  few  days  before  the  actual  attack  on  Detroit 
by  General  Brock,  an  express  had  been  sent  by 
General  Hull,  to  hasten  the  reinforcement  which 
had  been  ordered  to  join  him  from  Kentucky.  By 
this  conveyance,  several  of  the  principal  officers 
of  the  army  had  written  to  their  friends  in  Cincin 
nati,  as  well  as  to  the  governor  of  Kentucky,  stat 
ing  their  entire  want  of  confidence  in  their  com 
mander,  and  their  apprehensions  of  some  fatal 
disaster  from  his  miserable  arrangements  and  ap 
parent  imbecility  and  cowardice.  These  letters, 
also,  declared  it  to  be  the  common  wish  of  the 
army,  that  Governor  Harrison  should  accompany 
the  expected  reinforcements.  He  was  also  very 
popular  in  Kentucky,  and  was  anxiously  desired 
as  their  commander  by  the  troops  marching  from 
that  state  to  the  north-western  army.  But  the  au 
thority  with  which  he  had  been  invested  by  the 
President,  did  not  entitle  him  to  command  any 
corps,  which  was  not  intended  for  operations  in  the 
western  territories. 


166  MEMOIR   OF 

"  The  question  of  giving  Harrison  the  command 
of  the  detachment  on  the  march  from  Kentucky  for 
Detroit,  presented  great  difficulties  to  the  mind  of 
Governor  Scott.  The  motives  to  make  the  appoint 
ment  were  numerous.  He  had  ample  testimony 
of  its  being  the  wish  of  the  army  at  Detroit.  The 
fourth  United  States  regiment  in  particular,  which 
had  acquired  so  much  fame  at  Tippecanoe,  under 
the  command  of  Harrison,  he  was  assured  by  an 
officer  of  that  corps,  were  eager  to  see  their  old 
commander  again  placed  over  them.  The  same 
desire  was  felt  by  the  Kentucky  militia;  and  the 
citizens  echoed  their  sentiments  in  every  part  of 
the  state.  To  these  may  be  added  his  own  ardent 
attachment  to  Governor  Harrison,  and  entire  con 
fidence  in  his  fitness  for  the  command.  The  ob 
stacles  in  the  way  of  the  appointment  were,  that 
Harrison  was  not  a  citizen  of  Kentucky,  the  laws 
of  which  would  not  sanction  the  appointment  of  any 
other  to  an  office  in  the  militia ;  and  that  a  major 
general  had  already  been  appointed  for  the  detach 
ed  militia,  one  only  being  required  and  admissible 
in  that  corps.  Had  Governor  Scott  been  capable 
of  shrinking  from  his  duty  and  the  responsibility 
of  the  occasion,  he  might  have  easily  evaded  this 
delicate  business,  as  the  day  on  which  he  was  de 
liberating  upon  it,  was  the  last  but  one  that  he  had 
to  remain  in  office.  That  he  might,  however,  nei 
ther  act  unadvisedly,  nor  appear  to  assume  too 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  167 

much,  in  this  situation,  he  determined  to  ask  the 
advice  of  the  governor  elect,  and  such  members  of 
Congress,  and  officers  of  the  general  and  state  go 
vernments,  as  could  be  conveniently  collected.  At 
this  caucus,  composed  of  Governor  Shelby,  the 
Hon.  Henry  Clay,  speaker  of  the  house  of  repre 
sentatives  in  Congress,  the  Hon.  Thomas  Todd, 
judge  of  the  Federal  Court,  &c.,  it  was  unani 
mously  resolved  to  recommend  to  Governor  Scott, 
to  give  Harrison  a  brevet  commission  of  major 
general  in  the  Kentucky  militia,  and  authorize  him 
to  take  command  of  the  detachment  now  marching 
to  Detroit;  and  to  reinforce  it' with  another  regi 
ment  which  he  had  called  into  service,  and  an  ad 
ditional  body  of  mounted  volunteer  riflemen.  The 
governor  conferred  the  appointment  agreeably  to 
their  advice,  which  was  received  with  general  ap 
probation  by  the  people,  and  was  hailed  by  the 
troops  at  Cincinnati  with  the  most  enthusiastic  joy." 
The  surrender  of  Hull  having  defeated  the  im 
mediate  object  of  the  campaign,  General  Harrison's 
duties  became  even  more  delicate  and  arduous  than 
they  would  otherwise  have  been.  He  commenced 
a  system  of  organization  and  discipline,  to  which 
he  devoted  a  degree  of  severe  attention  and  personal 
labour,  under  which  nothing  but  a  high  sense  of 
military  pride,  united  with  patriotic  devotion  to  his 
country,  could  have  supported  him.  His  own  en 
thusiasm  was  communicated  to  those  around  him, 


168  MEMOIR    OF 

and  the  troops,  as  well  as  the  people  at  large, 
looked  upon  him  with  cheerful  confidence  as  the 
chosen  leader  who  was  destined  to  conduct  the  raw 
but  brave  soldiery  of  the  west  to  victory.  His  own 
views,  and  the  hopes  of  the  country,  received  a  tem 
porary  check  by  the  appointment  of  General  Win 
chester,  of  the  regular  army,  to  take  the  command. 

Shortly  after,  General  Harrison  received  a  com 
munication  from  the  war  department,  which  in 
formed  him  that  he  had  been  appointed  a  brigadier 
general  in  the  army  of  the  United  States ;  an  ap 
pointment  which  he  declined  accepting,  until  he 
could  learn  whether  his  acceptance  would  make 
him  subordinate  to  General  Winchester. 

Mr.  M'AfFee  remarks,  "  The  troops  had  confi 
dently  expected  that  General  Harrison  would  be 
confirmed  in  the  command ;  and  by  this  time  he  had 
completely  secured  the  confidence  of  every  soldier 
in  the  army.  He  was  affable  and  courteous  in  his 
manners,  and  indefatigable  in  his  attention  to  every 
branch  of  business.  His  soldiers  seemed  to  antici 
pate  the  wishes  of  their  general :  it  was  only  neces 
sary  to  be  known  that  he  wished  something  done, 
and  all  were  anxious  to  risk  their  lives  in  its  ac 
complishment.  His  men  would  have  fought  better 
and  suffered  more  with  him,  than  with  any  other 
general  in  America;  and  whatever  might  have 
been  the  merits  of  General  Winchester,  it  was  cer 
tainly  an  unfortunate  arrangement  which  trans- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  169 

ferred  the  command  to  him  at  this  moment.  It  is 
absolutely  necessary  that  militia  soldiers  should 
have  great  confidence  in  their  general,  if  they  are 
required  either  to  obey  with  promptness,  or  to  fight 
with  bravery.  The  men  were  at  last  reconciled  to 
march  under  Winchester,  but  with  a  confident  be 
lief  that  Harrison  would  be  reinstated  in  the  com 
mand  ;  and  which  accordingly  was  done,,  as  soon 
as  the  war  department  was  informed  of  his  appoint 
ment  in  the  Kentucky  troops,  and  his  popularity  in 
the  western  country." 

It  is  only  to  be  regretted  that  the  command  had 
not  been  conferred  upon  Harrison  at  an  earlier  pe 
riod,  as  in  that  case  the  dreadful  tragedy  of  the 
massacre  at  the  river  Raisin  would  not  have  been 
exhibited,  and  the  British  army  might  have  been 
saved  from  the  blackest  stain  ever  indelibly  im 
pressed  upon  the  military  character  of  a  nation,  by 
disgraceful  outrage  and  cowardly  revenge. 
15 


170  MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER  XII. 
* 

Unprepared  state  of  the  country  at  the  commence 
ment  of  the  war — March  of  the  volunteers — 
Their  confidence  in  Harrison. 

THOSE  who  look  back  at  the  events  of  the  late 
war,  are  not  more  forcibly  struck  with  the  brilliant 
success  of  our  arms  upon  sea  and  land,  than  with 
the  unprepared  condition  of  the  country,  even  for  de- 
fensive  warfare.  The  latter  circumstance  was  used 
by  the  party  opposed  to  the  administration,  as  an 
argument  against  the  expediency1  of  declaring  the 
war ;  when  in  fact  hostilities  had  for  years  been, 
waged  against  us,  on  the  frontiers  and  on  the  ocean? 
and  the  taking  up  of  arms  on  our  part  was  a  mea 
sure  of  self-defence,  which  had  been  delayed  until 
longer  forbearance  would  have  been  neither  safe 
nor  honourable.  The  unprepared  state  of  the  coun 
try,  under  such  circumstances,  is  an  evidence  of  the 
pacific  character  of  our  institutions,  and  of  the  great 
reluctance  with  which  our  government  or  people 
consent  to  appeal  to  the  last  resort  of  nations.  In 
sulted  and  abused  as  we  were,  we  had  relied  con 
fidently  upon  argument  and  negotiation,  and  had 
appealed  to  the  justice  of  our  enemy  rather  than  her 


WILLIAM    HENRY   HARRISON.  171 

fears.  The  trust  reposed  by  us  in  the  magnanimity 
of  a  great  nation,  was  misplaced  ;  the  language  of 
conciliation  and  manly  remonstrance  was  new  to 
the  ears  of  despotism,  and  instead  of  winning  favour, 
encouraged  the  foe  to  greater  audacity  of  aggres 
sion.  Yet  even  up  to  the,  last  moment  there  was 
no  preparation  for  war — the  insulted  flag,  the  im 
pressed  seamen,  and  the  ravaged  frontier,  failed  to 
disturb  the  love  and  the  habit  of  peace  which  are 
inherent  elements  in  our  national  character. 

Posterity  will  read  the  history  of  the  last  war 
with  a  surprise  bordering  on  incredulity.  In  open 
hostilities  with  one  of  the  most  powerful  and  war 
like  of  nations — we  began  without  an  army,  with 
out  magazines,  without  resources.  With  an  exten 
sive  sea-board,  and  a  long  line  of  interior  frontier 
accessible  to  the  enemy,  we  had  few  ships,  and 
scarcely  any  forts  that  deserved  the  name. 

The  north-western  country  was  especially  ex 
posed.  After  the  capture  of  Hull,  there  remained 
no  fortress  on  the  upper  lakes,  in  our  hands,  nor 
any  regular  force.  Corps  of  militia,  hastily  col 
lected,  were  advancing  towards  the  lines ;  but  they 
were  undisciplined,  and  destitute  of  supplies.  Some 
idea  of  the  condition  of  all  these  troops  may  be 
formed  from  the  description  given  of  those  assem 
bled  at  Newport  and  Cincinnati,  in  a  letter  from 
General  Harrison  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated 
August  28,  1812, 


172  MEMOIR    OF 

He  says,  "  I  shall  march  to-morrow  morning 
with  the  troops  that  I  have  here,  taking  the  route 
of  Dayton  and  Piqua.  The  relief  of  Fort  Wayne 
will  be  my  first  object,  and  my  after  operations 
will  be  governed  by  circumstances,  until  I  receive 
your  instructions. 

"  Considering  rriy  command  as  merely  provi 
sional,  I  shall  cheerfully  conform  to  any  other  ar 
rangement  which  the  government  may  think  pro 
per  to  make.  The  troops  which  I  have  with  me, 
and  those  which  are  coming  from  Kentucky,  are, 
perhaps,  the  best  materials  for  forming  an  army 
that  the  world  has  produced.  But  no  equal  num 
ber  of  men  was  ever  collected,  who  knew  so  little 
of  military  discipline ;  nor  have  I  any  assistance 
that  can  give  me  the  least  aid,  if  there  was  even 
time  for  it,  but  Captain  Adams  of  the  fourth  regi 
ment  who  was  left  here  sick,  and  whom  I  have  ap 
pointed  deputy  adjutant  general,  until  the  pleasure 
of  the  President  can  be  known. 

"  No  arms  for  cavalry  have  yet  arrived  at  New 
port,  and  I  shall  be  forced  to  put  muskets  in  the 
hands  of  all  the  dragoons.  I  have  written  to  the 
quarter-master  at  Pittsburgh  to  request  him  to  for 
ward  all  supplies  of  arms,  equipments,  and  quar 
ter-master's  stores,  as  soon  as  possible.  I  have 
also  requested  him  to  send  down  a  few  pieces  of 
artillery,  without  waiting  for  your  order ;  and  wait 
your  instructions  as  to  a  further  number.  There 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  173 

is  but  one  piece  of  artillery,  an  iron  four-pounder, 
anywhere  that  I  can  hear  of  in  the  country.  If  it 
is  intended  to  retake  the  posts  that  we  have  lost, 
and  reduce  Maiden,  this  season,  the  artillery  must 
be  sent  on  as  soon  as  possible.  There  is  no  longer 
a  possibility  of  getting  money  for  drafts  in  this 
country.  The  paymaster  (General  Taylor's  de 
puty)  continues  to  act,  and  I  have  been  obliged  to 
agree  with  the  bank  here,  called  the  Miami  Export 
ing  Company,  that  the  United  States  shall  be  at  the 
expense  and  risk  of  sending  on  specie  for  the  drafts 
that  are  now  given  for  the  pay  of  the  troops,  and 
for  the  quarter-master's  department." 

Having  received  advices  informing  him  that  Fort 
Wayne  was  invested  by  a  large  body  of  Indians, 
and  was  in  danger  of  being  reduced,  General  Har 
rison  hastened,  without  waiting  for  the  orders  of 
government,  to  march  to  the  relief  of  that  place ; 
but  on  the  5th  of  September  was  obliged  to  halt,  to 
await  a  supply  of  flints,  a  small  but  indispensable 
article. 

The  few  facts  which  we  have  stated,  show  the 
importance  of  the  duties  intrusted  to  General  Har 
rison,  and  the  insufficiency  of  the  means  with  which 
he  was  to  operate.  With  a  line  of  frontier  to  pro 
tect  of  several  hundred  miles  in  extent,  composed 
of  a  wilderness  without  roads, — a  vast  wilderness 
of  forest,  intersected  with  swamps  and  streams  of 
difficult  passage—without  the  ordinary  means  of 
15* 


174  MEMOIR    OF 

receiving  or  conveying  information,  and  destitute 
of  depots  of  provisions  and  munitions  of  war — op 
posed  to  well-trained  battalions,  aided  by  hordes 
of  savages  w  D  ;;ould  move  unobserved  from  point 
to  point— he  h«vi  an  army  without  discipline,  cav 
alry  witho'j*  swords,  artillery-men  without  guns, 
infantry  v/iih  rj,:  flints,  and  paymasters  without 
money.  Mos!.  of  these  deficiencies  were  eventually 
supplied  through  his  own  exertions;  and  in  addition 
to  the  usual  duties  of  commander-in-chief,  he  was 
obliged  to  attend  personally  to  the  drilling  of  the 
soldiers,  the  procurement  of  arms,  munitions,  and 
camp  equipage,  and  the  arrangement  of  pecuniary 
resources.  His  indefatigable  attention  to  these  va 
rious  details  soon  won  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  the  army.  A  writer  of  that  day  says,  "  Briga 
dier  General  Harrison  is  at  Piqua  with  2000  Ken 
tucky  soldiers,  and  2000  more  in  his  rear.  Har 
rison's  presence  appears  to  inspire  every  person 
with  courage,  and  makes  even  cowards  brave.  His 
present  conduct  evinces  a  determination  to  retrieve 
the  injured  reputation  of  our  country.  He  has 
made  a  most  animating  speech  to  the  friendly  na 
tives  at  Piqua,  who  are  numerous  and  suing  for  a 
continuation  of  peace." 

On  the  9th  of  September  the  army  arrived  at 
Shane's  Crossing  of  the  St.  Mary's,  not  far  from 
Fort  Wayne;  and  on  the  llth  the  general  wrote  to 
the  Secretary  of  War,  "  You  need  not  fear  the 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  175 

issue  of  the  action,  which  I  expect  will  take  place 
to-morrow.  My  troops  are  in  high  spirits,  and 
will,  I  am  persuaded,  do  honour  to  themselves  and 
their  country." 

The  anticipations  of  the  general  were  not  real 
ized.  Instead  of  having  to  fight  his  way  to  the 
fort,  he  found  the  positions  of  the  besieging  army 
abandoned.  The  enemy  fled  at  his  approach ; 
and  he  had  the  merit  of  relieving  that  import 
ant  post,  by  his  prompt  and  skilful  conduct,  with 
out  any  expenditure  of  blood. 

Previous  to  the  arrival  of  General  Winches 
ter,  who  had  been  ordered  to  take  the  com 
mand,  General  Harrison  employed  himself  in 
measures  to  strike  terror  into  the  hostile  Indians. 
Detachments  were  sent  to  destroy  the  Indian 
towns,  and  the  corn-fields,  in  the  surrounding 
region,  some  of  which  the  general  attended  in  per 
son.  Large  quantities  of  corn  were  destroyed, 
and  the  enemy  disabled,  from  the  want  of  subsist 
ence,  from  embodying  themselves  for  any  further 
mischief. 

The  arrival  of  General  Winchester  to  take  the 
command  caused  much  discontent  among  the  troops. 
M'Affee  says,  he  had  been  a  revolutionary  officer, 
and  was  now  advanced  in  years.  He  was  a 
wealthy  citizen  of  Tennessee,  where  he  had  lived 
many  years,  in  a  degree  of  elegant  luxury  and 
ease,  which  was  not  calculated  to  season  him  for 


176  MEMOIR    OF 

a  northern  campaign  in  the  forest.  His  arrival 
produced  much  uneasiness  among  the  troops ;  being 
a  regular  officer  with  whom  they  were  unac 
quainted,  many  of  the  military  seemed  disposed 
not  to  be  commanded  by  him ;  and  General 
Harrison,  with  the  field  officers,  had  to  exert 
all  their  influence  to  reconcile  the  army  to  the 
change." 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  177 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Harrison  appointed  Commander-in-chief — Extent 
of  his  command — Difficulties  by  which  he  was 
surrounded — Plan  of  operations. 

WHEN  General  Harrison  retired  from  the  army, 
his  intention  was  to  return  to  his  residence  in  In 
diana,  and  resume  his  duties  as  governor  of  that 
territory,  from  which  he  had  been  called  by  the 
urgent  request  of  his  fellow-citizens.  He  had  felt 
himself  obliged  to  obey  that  call,  when  it  was  made, 
because  there  was  no  other  commander  in  the  field  ; 
but  when  the  President,  unaware  of  the  wishes  of 
the  western  people,  designated  another  individual 
as  commander-in-chief,  it  became  Mr.  Harrison's 
obvious  duty  to  acquiesce  cheerfully  in  the  deci 
sion. 

No  sooner,  however,  did  the  President  learn  the 
actual  state  of  affairs  on  the  frontier,  that  Mr.  Har 
rison  was  the  choice  of  the  whole  western  people, 
and  that  he  had  been  industriously  engaged  in 
making  extensive  preparations  for  active  operations, 
than  he  saw  the  propriety  of  conferring  on  him  the 
chief  command.  Accordingly,  when  Governor 
Harrison  reached  Piqua,  on  his  return,  he  met  an 
express,  conveying  to  him  the  following  dispatch : 


178  MEMOIR    OF 

"  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  Sent.  17, 1812. 
«  SIR, 

"  The  President  is  pleased  to  assign  to  you  the 
command  of  the  north-western  army,  which  in  ad 
dition  to  the  regular  troops  and  rangers  in  that 
quarter,  will  consist  of  the  volunteers  and  militia 
of  Kentucky,  Ohio,  and  three  thousand  from  Vir 
ginia  and  Pennsylvania,  making  your  whole  force 
ten  thousand  men. 

"  Having  provided  for  the  protection  of  the  west 
ern  frontier,  you  will  retake  Detroit,  and  with  a 
view  to  the  conquest  of  Upper  Canada,  you  will 
penetrate  that  country  as  far  as  the  force  under 
your  command  will  in  your  judgment  justify. 

"  Every  exertion  is  making  to  give  you  a  train 
of  artillery  from  Pittsburgh ;  to  effect  which,  you 
must  be  sensible,  requires  time.  Major  Stoddard, 
the  senior  officer  of  artillery  at  that  place,  will  ad 
vise  you  of  his  arrangements  and  progress,  and 
receive  your  instructions.  Captain  Gratiot,  of  the 
engineers,  will  report  himself  to  you,  from  Pitts 
burgh  ;  he  will  receive  your  orders,  and  join  you 
with  the  first  piece  of  artillery  which  can  be  pre 
pared,  or  receive  such  orders  as  you  may  direct. 
Major  Ball,  of  the  2d  regiment  of  dragoons,  will 
also  report  himself,  and  join  you  immediately. 
Such  staff  officers  as  you  may  appoint  conformably 
to  law,  will  be  approved  by  the  President. 

"  Copies  of  all  contracts  for  supplying  provisions 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  179 

have  been  transmitted.  Mr.  Denny,  the  contractor 
at  Pittsburgh,  is  instructed  to  furnish  magazines  of 
provisions  at  such  places  as  you  may  direct, 

"  The  deputy  quarter-master  at  Pittsburgh  will 
continue  to  forward  stores  and  munitions  of  every 
kind,  and  will  meet  your  requisitions. 

"  Colonel  Buford,  deputy  commissary,  at  Lex 
ington,  is  furnished  with  funds,  and  is  subject  to 
your  orders.  Should  an  additional  purchasing 
commissary  become  necessary,  you  will  appoint  one, 
and  authorize  him  to  draw  and  sell  bills  on  this  de 
partment.  It  seems  advisable  to  keep  the  local  con 
tractors  in  requisition  as  far  as  they  can  supply. 
With  these  objects  in  view,  you  will  command  such 
means  as  may  be  practicable,  exercise  your  own 
discretion,  and  act  in  all  cases  according  to  your 
own  judgment. 

"  Very  respectfully,  &c. 

"  W,  EUSTIS. 

"  Brig.  Gen.  WM.  H.  HARRISON." 

In  a  letter  to  Governor  Shelby,  of  the  same  date> 
the  Secretary  remarks.  "  It  has  been  determined 
to  vest  the  command  of  all  the  forces  on  the  west 
ern  and  north-western  frontier,  in  an  officer  whose 
military  character,  and  knowledge  of  the  country, 
appeared  to  be  combined  with  the  public  confi 
dence.  General  Harrison  has  accordingly  been 
appointed  to  the  chief  command,  with  authority  to 
employ  officers,  and  to  draw  from  the  public  stores^ 


180  MEMOIR    OF 

and  every  other  practicable  source,  all  the  means 
of  effectuating  the  object  of  his  command." 

The  command  bestowed  on  General  Harrison 
was  the  most  extensive  and  important  that  was 
ever  intrusted  to  any  officer  of  the  United  States — 
Washington  and  Greene  excepted.  The  territory 
assigned  to  him  was  very  large,  and  contained  an 
endless  number  of  posts  and  scattered  settlements 
which  he  was  required  to  defend  against  numerous 
hordes  of  Indians,  at  the  same  time  that  he  carried 
forward  the  regular  operations  of  the  campaign 
against  a  well-disciplined  British  army.  His  forces 
were  raw,  undisciplined  militia — full  of  ardour, 
self-devotion,  and  patriotism,  but  wholly  destitute 
of  the  habits  or  experience,  of  the  soldier.  The  dif 
ficulties  which  he  had  to  encounter  were  of  no 
ordinary  character,  and  imposed  a  weight  of  duty 
which  required  an  union  of  all  the  qualities  that  con 
stitute  an  able  leader.  The  commissariat  of  the 
army  was  wretchedly  appointed,  and  almost  with 
out  organization ;  and  the  general  found  himself 
called  upon  to  act  in  the  wilderness,  far  from  the 
country  from  which  his  supplies  must  be  drawn, 
distant  from  all  highways  or  other  channels  of  in 
tercourse,  and  without  any  regular  system  for  fur 
nishing  provisions  to  his  army.  A  trackless  and 
swampy  desert,  almost  impassable  for  heavy  wa 
gons,  and  filled  with  hostile  savages,  intervened 
between  the  seat  of  war  and  the  nearest  settlements. 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  181 

On  the  other  hand,  the  most  ample  powers  were 
given  to  the  general:  he  was  permitted  to  make 
appointments  in  all  the  various  departments  of  his 
army,  and  the  officers  thus  designated  by  himself, 
were  confirmed  by  the  President.  He  was  autho 
rized  to  draw  on  the  government  for  money  to  an 
unlimited  amount,  and  to  make  any  contracts 
which  he  might  deem  expedient,  for  the  furnishing 
of  his  army.  These  extraordinary  powers  were 
exercised  by  him  with  moderation,  and  with  ener 
gy.  Though  clothed  with  authority  inferior  only 
to  that  of  the  President,  and  far  greater  than  that 
conferred  on  any  other  commander,  he  always  con 
ducted  himself  with  the  prudence  of  a  citizen  who 
understood  the  respect  due  to  the  laws,  and  the  re 
sponsibility  which  he  owed  ihe  people. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  this  extensive  com 
mand  was  conferred  on  General  Harrison  by  Mr. 
Madison,  whose  official  relations  had  been  such  as 
to  enable  him  to  form  an  accurate  opinion  of  the 
capacity  of  the  individual  whom  he  thus  trusted. 
Mr.  Madison  was  called  to  the  office  of  Secretary 
of  State,  by  Mr.  Jefferson,  in  1801,  shortly  after 
Mr.  Harrison  had  been  appointed  governor  of  In 
diana.  They  had  both  served  throughout  the  whole 
eight  years  of  the  administration  of  Mr.  Jefferson  ; 
and  the  Secretary  of  State  must  have  been  well 
advised  of  the  estimation  in  which  the  territorial 
governor  was  held  by  the  President.  He  doubtless 
16 


182  MEMOIR    OF 

had  access  to  the  voluminous  correspondence  of 
Mr.  Harrison,  on  subjects  of  grave  importance  and 
immediate  interest.  No  man  in  the  nation  had  a 
more  intimate  knowledge  of  all  Mr.  Harrison's  offi 
cial  acts,  or  was  possessed  of  more  ample  testimo 
ny  upon  which  to  form  a  judgment  of  his  capacity 
and  habits  of  transacting  business.  This  illustrious 
patriot  became  President  in  1809,  and  Mr.  Harri 
son  remained  in  office  under  him,  enjoying  his  con 
fidence,  as  he  had  enjoyed  that  of  Mr.  Jefferson. 

It  was  therefore  after  an  intimate  official  inter 
course  of  nearly  twelve  years,  that  the  President 
conferred  on  General  Harrison  the  chief  command 
of  an  important  division  of  the  army,  and  intrusted 
him  with  powers  and  responsibilities  the  most 
weighty  and  delicate.  It  was  with  such  a  know 
ledge  of  the  character  of  the  new  commander-in- 
chief,  that  he  gave  him  an  unlimited-  command  of 
means,  and  authorized  him  to  "  act  in  all  cases 
according  to  his  own  judgment." 

•  With  the  force  now  under  his  command,  Gene 
ral  Harrison  proceeded  to  St.  Mary's,  and  thence 
to  Defiance,  where  he  found  General  Winchester 
encamped.  During  the  march  the  troops  suffered 
much.  The  weather  was  cold  and  rainy,  and  the 
army  being  unprovided  with  tents,  were  greatly 
exposed.  General  Harrison  and  his  staff  were  in 
the  same  situation,  and  endured  similar  hardships. 
The  following  description  of  a  bivouac  of  one  even- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    IIARBISOX.  183 

mg  on  that  march,  is  given  as  a  specimen  of  what 
was  customary  during  this  campaign.  The  troops, 
being  on  a  forced  march,  were  not  suffered  to  halt 
until  dark.  They  were  then  formed,  as  nearly  as 
practicable,  in  the  order  of  a  regulsfr  encampment, 
and  the  proper  guards  posted.  The  ground  now 
spoken  of  was  on  the  bank  of  the  Au  Glaise  river, 
in  a  flat  beech  bottom,  which  was  nearly  covered 
with  water,  from  the  rain  which  fell  in  torrents 
during  the  whole  night.  The  troops  were  destitute 
of  axes,  and  could  only  procure  such  fuel  as  was 
furnished  by  the  dry  limbs  lying  scattered  on  the 
ground.  Those  who  could  find  a  dry  log,  against 
which  a  fire  could  be  kindled,  were  fortunate; 
many  sat,  without  fire,  upon  their  saddles,  at  the 
roots  of  trees,  against  which  they  leaned,  and  en 
deavoured  to  sleep.  Being  separated  from  the  bag 
gage,  few  had  any  thing  to  eat,  or  drink.  The 
men  became  peevish,  and  were  not  sparing  in  their 
complaints.  To  set  an  example  to  the  soldiers,  and 
give  a  different  turn  to  their  thoughts,  the  general, 
who,  with  his  staff,  sat  at  a  small  fire,  wrapped  in  his 
cloak,  receiving  the  rain  as  it  fell,  requested  one  of 
his  officers  to  sing  an  Irish  song, — the  humour  of 
which,  and  the  determination  evinced  at  head  quar 
ters  to  make  the  best  of  the  circumstances,  soon  pro 
duced  good-humour  throughout  the  camp.*  An- 

*  Dawsou. 


184  MEMOIR    OF 

I 

other  officer  sang  a  song,  of  which  the  chorus 
was: 

"  Now 's  the  time  for  mirth  and  glee, 
Sing,  and  laugh,  and  dance  with  me." 

The  ludicrous  *contrast  between  these  words,  and 
the  gloom  of  the  woods  and  the  tempest,  produced 
such  an  impression,  that  they  soon  became  prover 
bial  ;  and  whenever  afterwards  the  army  was  placed 
in  a  similar  situation — when  enduring  the  pelting 
of  the  storm,  or  wading  to  the  knees  in  mud  and 
ice,  some  gallant  spirit  would  roar  out, — 

"  Now 's  the  time  for  mirth  and  glee," 

and  the  whole  line  of  march  would  take  up  the 
words,  in  full  chorus. 

This  rapid  movement  had  been  induced  by  an 
express  from  General  Winchester,  bearing  the  in 
telligence  that  his  march  had  been  impeded  by  par 
ties  of  Indians ;  and  that  on  arriving  near  Defiance, 
he  had  discovered  that  they  were  accompanied  by 
British  troops,  with  artillery.  At  the  same  time  a 
communication  from  Governor  Meigs,  with  a  letter 
from  General  Kelso,  commanding  a  body  of  Penn 
sylvania  militia  on  Lake  Erie,  conveyed  the  intel 
ligence,  that  on  the  16th  of  September,  2000  In 
dians,  with  some  British  regulars  and  militia,  had  left 
Fort  Maiden  on  an  expedition  against  Fort  Wayne.* 


*  M'Affee. 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  185 

The  promptitude  with  which  General  Harrison 
moved  towards  the  point  threatened  by  the  enemy, 
was  creditable  to  his  zeal  and  capacity.  But  before 
his  arrival,  the  enemy,  whose  force  had  been  mag 
nified  by  report,  had  retired. 

An  incident  which  occurred  on  the  arrival  of 
General  Harrison  at  Winchester's  camp,  is  too 
honourable  to  himself,  and  the  troops,  to  be  omit 
ted  ;  and  we  shall  do  but  justice  to  our  contempo 
rary,  Mr.  Butler,  by  extracting  it  from  his  history 
of  Kentucky,  as  he  has  written  it. 

"  Soon  after  General  Harrison's  arrival  at  camp, 
and  after  he  had  retired  to  enjoy  some  little  repose, 
so  welcome  to  one  who  had  been  exposed  on  the 
preceding  comfortless  and  forced  expedition,  he 
found  himself  suddenly  awakened  by  Colonel  Allen 
and  Major  M.  D.  Hardin.  These  officers  were  the 
bearers  of  the  mortifying  news,  that  Allen's  regi 
ment,  exhausted  by  the  hard  fare  of  the  campaign, 
and  disappointed  in  the^expectation  of  an  immediate 
engagement  with  the  enemy,  had,  in  defiance  of 
their  duty  to  their  country,  and  all  the  earnest  re 
monstrances  of  their  officers,  determined  to  return 
home.  These  officers  assured  General  Harrison 
that  they  could  do  nothing  with  their  men ;  that 
their  representations  were  answered  «by  insults 
alone.  They  begged  the  general  to  rise  and  inter 
fere,  as  the  only  officer  who  had  any  prospect  of 
bringing  the  mutineers  back  to  their  duty.  He  re. 
16* 


186  MEMOIR    OF 

fused  to  interfere  at  that  time ;  but  assured  the  gen 
tlemen  that  he  would  attend  to  the  serious  object 
of  their  request,  in  his  own  way,  arid  at  his  own 
time.  The  officers  retired  ;  in  the  mean  time  Ge 
neral  Harrison  sent  one  of  his  aids  to  direct  Gene 
ral  Winchester  to  order  the  alarm  to  be  beat  on  the 
ensuing  morning,  instead  of  the  reveille.  This 
adroit  expedient  brought  all  the  troops  to  their 
arms,  the  first  thing  in  the  morning.  It  diverted 
the  spirits  of  the  discontented  troops  into  a  new 
channel  of  feeling ;  and  prepared  them  for  the  sub 
sequent  events." 

"  On  the  parading  of  the  troops  at  their  posts, 
General  Winchester  was  ordered  to  form  them 
into  a  hollow  square.  General  Harrison  now  ap 
peared  upon  parade,  much  to  the  surprise  of  the 
troops,  who,  from  his  late  arrival  in  camp,  were  un- 
apprised  of  his  presence.  If  the  sudden  and  unex 
pected  arrival  of  their  favourite  commander  had  so 
visible  an  effect  upon  the  men,  his  immediate  ad 
dress  to  them  fully  preserved  the  impression.  He 
began  by  lamenting  that  there  was,  as  he  was  in 
formed,  considerable  discontents  in  one  of  the  Ken 
tucky  regiments:  this,  although  a  source  of  mortifica 
tion  to  himself,  on  their  account,  was  happily  of  little 
consequence  to  the  government.  He  had  more  troops 
than  he  knew  well  what  to  do  with,  at  the  present 
stage  of  the  campaign  ;  and  he  was  expecting  daily 
the  arrival  of  the  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania  quo- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  187 

tas.  It  was  fortunate,  said  this  officer,  with  the 
ready  oratory  for  which  his  native  Virginia  is  so 
famed,  that  he  had  found  out  this  dissatisfaction 
before  the  campaign  was  farther  advanced,  when 
the  discovery  might  have  been  mischievous  to  the 
public  interests,  as  well  as  disgraceful  to  the  par 
ties  concerned.  Now,  so  far  as  the  government 
was  interested,  the  discontented  troops,  who  had 
come  to  the  woods  with  the  expectation  of  finding 
all  the  luxuries  of  home  and  peace,  had  full  liberty 
to  return.  He  would,  he  continued,  order  facilities 
to  be  furnished  for  their  immediate  accommodation. 
But  he  could  not  refrain  from  expressing  the  mor 
tification  he  anticipated  from  the  reception  they 
would  meet  from  the  old  and  the  young,  who  had 
greeted  them  on  their  march  to  the  scene  of  war, 
as  their  gallant  neighbours." 

"  What  must  be  their  feelings,  said  the  general, 
to  see  those  whom  they  had  hailed  as  their  gene 
rous  defenders,  now  returning  without  striking  a 
blow,  and  before  their  term  of  plighted  service  had 
expired?  But  if  this  would  be  the  state  of  public 
sentiment  in  Ohio,  what  would  it  be  in  Kentucky  ? 
If  their  fathers  did  not  drive  back  their  degenerate 
sons  to  the  field  of  battle,  to  recover  their  wounded 
honour,  their  mothers  and  sisters  would  hiss  them 
from  their  presence.  If,  however,  the  discontented 
men  were  disposed  to  put  up  with  all  the  taunts  and 


188  MEMOIR    OF 

disdain  wnich  awaited  them  wherever  they  might 
go,  they  were  at  full  liberty  to  go  back." 

The  influence  of  t,his  animated  address  was  in 
stantaneous.  This  was  evinced  in  a  manner  most 
flattering  to  the  tact  and  management  of  the  com 
mander.  Colonel  J.  M.  Scott,  the  senior  colonel 
of  Kentucky,  addressed  his  men.  "  You,  my  boys," 
said  the  generous  veteran,  "  will  prove  your  attach 
ment  for  the  service  of  your  country,  and  your 
general,  by  giving  him  three  cheers."  The  appeal 
was  effective,  and  the  air  resounded  with  shouts. 
Colonel  Lewis  took  the  same  course,  and  a  similar 
effect  resulted.  The  noble  Allen  then  appealed  to 
the  disaffected  regiment,  and,  with  a  feeling  which 
almost  choked  his  utterance,  called  upon  his  men 
to  follow  the  patriotic  example  of  the  other  Ken 
tucky  regiments.  They  also  threw  up  their  voices 
in  loud  acclamation,  while  many  a  sob  of  deep 
feeling  was  mingled  with  the  shout  of  military 
ardour.  They  returned  cheerfully  to  their  duty  ; 
and  no  troops  served  more  faithfully,  until  the  fatal 
day  when  most  of  them  gave  their  lives  to  their 
country,  on  the  bloody  field  of  Raisin. 

We  take  this  occasion  to  remark,  that  on  various 
occasions  the  eloquence  of  General  Harrison  was 
exerted  with  admirable  effect,  throughout  the  whole 
of  his  military  career.  It  was  his  practice  to  win 
obedience  by  kindness,  and  to  enforce  the  perform 
ance  of  duty  by  appeals  to  the  reason  of  his  troops. 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  189 

His  experience  and  good  sense  taught  him  that  mi 
litia — freemen  serving  voluntarily  in  the  ranks  of 
patriotism — did  not  expect,  nor  deserve,  the  same 
kind  of  treatment  as  is  observed  towards  mercena 
ry  troops.  Those  who  offered  their  services  on 
such  occasions,  were  the  high-spirited  and  gene 
rous  ;  they  were  the  choice  men  of  a  magnanimous 
population ;  they  had  talent,  intelligence,  and  chiv 
alry  ;  and  their  leaders  were  the  popular  men  of 
the  region.  The  commander  who  would  have 
offended  such  men  by  an  arrogant  bearing,  or  have 
attempted  to  wound  their  pride  by  disgraceful  pun 
ishments,  would  have  shown  himself  a  bad  judge 
of  human  nature.  General  Harrison  adopted  the 
opposite  course;  and  while  he  observed  a  strict 
military  etiquette,  and  required  obedience  from  those 
under  him,  always  treated  his  men  with  respect  ; 
considering  every  soldier  a  patriot,  who  was  mak 
ing  sacrifices  for  his  country,  and  reflecting  that 
each  had  the  delicate  feelings  of  pride,  which  are 
always  found  associated  with  generous  valour,  and 
disinterested  love  of  country.  During  the  whole 
of  his  command,  he  never  caused  nor  permitted  a 
degrading  punishment  to  be  inflicted  on  a  militia 
soldier.  Like  a  father,  he  often  gave  in  private  the 
affectionate  admonition,  which  precluded  the  neces 
sity  of  a  public  exposure,  and  produced  the  desired 
end ;  or  availing  himself  of  his  remarkable  talent 
for  extemporaneous  speaking,  he  addressed  his 


190  MEMOIR    OF 

troops  in  strains  of  elegant  and  forcible  eloquence, 
which  won  them  to  their  duty  ;  while  his  series  of 
general  orders  were  full  of  animating  appeals  to 
the  reasorf,  patriotism,  and  sense  of  duty  of  his 
brave  fellow-soldiers. 

General  Harrison  is  a  man  of  remarkably  con 
ciliatory  habits  and  manners.  It  is  seldom  that  an 
individual  of  so  ardent  a  temperament  is  endowed 
with  such  evenness  of  temper.  He  is  by  nature 
kind,  has  great  warmth  of  heart,  and  buoyancy  of 
spirits ;  and  though  easily  excited,  is  not  readily 
discouraged,  or  awakened  to  anger. 

This  has  been  the  great  secret  of  his  popularity. 
His  talents  and  public  services  have  commanded 
respect ;  but  his  uniform  good  temper,  considerate- 
ness,  and  forbearance, — his  conciliating  manners, 
and  his  freedom  from  the  arbitrary  habits,  and  pas 
sionate  bearing,  which  sometimes  accompany  great 
military  talents,  won  for  him  the  love  and  confi 
dence  of  those  who  followed  him  to  the  field. 
Their  commander,  their  companion  in  danger  and 
privation,  he  was  on  all  occasions  their  friend  and 
fellow-citizen.  He  demanded  no  homage  to  which 
he  was  not  entitled.  He  claimed  only  what  his 
commission  gave,  what  his  talents  as  a  commander 
assured  to  him,  and  his  qualities  as  a  gentleman 
confirmed  to  be  his  right. 

The  immediate  objects  of  the  campaign  commit 
ted  to  the  sole  direction  of  Genera!  Harrison,  were, 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  191 

'.he  recapture  of  Detroit,  and  the  expulsion  of  the 
British  from  the  territory  of  the  United  States— the 
protection  of  the  north-western  and  western  border 
— and  the  reduction  of  Maiden  in  Upper  Canada. 

The  extensive  line  of  frontier  committed  to  his 
protection,  included  the  whole  of  the  shores  of  the 
northern  lakes,  of  which  the  numerous  harbours 
and  mouths  of  rivers  were  undefended  by  fortifica 
tions,  and  easily  accessible  to  the  enemy  ;  while  it 
also  comprised  the  detached  settlements  on  the 
Wabash  and  the  Mississippi,  which  were  exposed 
to  the  depredations  of  the  Indians. 

The  means  for  effecting  these  objects  were  wholly 
inadequate.  The  soldiers  were  militia,  hastily  raised, 
badly  armed,  and  badly  clothed.  No  regular  sys 
tem  for  furnishing  supplies  had  as  yet  been  estab 
lished  in  any  department  of  the  army.  Steamboats 
had  not  at  that  period  been  introduced  upon  the 
western  waters ;  nor  was  there  a  turnpike  road 
west  of  the  Ohio  river.  The  points  at  which  the 
various  corps  of  the  army  were  to  operate,  were  far 
beyond  the  settlements  ;  and  the  wagons  or  pack- 
horses  employed  in  the  transportation  of  stores  or 
baggage,  were  driven  through  a  wilderness  encum 
bered  with  a  luxuriant  vegetation — over  a  rich  deep 
soil,  whose  porous  and  spongy  surface  became  con 
verted  by  every  rain  into  an  almost  impassable 
mire — and  through  swamps,  as  gloomy  and  un 
wholesome  as  they  were  difficult  to  be  passed. 


192  MEMOIR    OF 

There  are  few  difficulties  which  may  not  be  sur 
mounted  by  genius  and  perseverance,  with  the 
proper  aids ;  but  it  will  be  seen  that  the  govern 
ment  was  enabled  to  give  but  little  assistance  to 
General  Harrison,  and  that  he  was  obliged  to  ac 
complish  much  by  his  personal  influence,  which 
ought  properly  to  have  been  effected  by  the  regular 
operation  of  several  different  departments  organized 
by  law,  and  controlled  by  their  proper  chiefs.  He 
was  intrusted  with  the  delicate  responsibility  of  ap 
pointing  officers  in  the  purchasing  and  disbursing 
departments,  assigning  to  them  their  duties,  and 
drawing  in  their  favour  for  moneys  to  an  unlimited 
amount.  He  was  obliged  to  appeal  personally  to 
the  governors  of  Ohio  and  Kentucky  for  their  co 
operation  ;  and  was  happy  in  finding,  in  Meigs  and 
Shelby,  men  whose  patriotism  was  of  the  elevated 
character  which  the  emergency  of  the  times,  and 
their  own  high  stations,  required.  His  calls  upon 
the  people  were  made  in  many  instances  upon  his 
individual  responsibility ;  while  the  volunteers  who 
followed  him  to  the  field  were  often  so  disheartened 
by  the  hardships  they  had  to  endure,  and  the  want 
of  all  the  comforts  and  necessaries  to  which  they 
were  entitled,  that  they  were  only  induced  to  per 
severe  in  the  generous  enterprise  in  which  they  had 
engaged,  by  his  eloquent  harangues,  and  the  con 
tinual  exertion  of  his  personal  popularity. 

We  shall  not  attempt  to  enumerate  the  different 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  193 

corps  which  served  under  General  Harrison  in  this 
campaign  ;  nor  to  place  upon  our  brief  record  the 
names  of  the  patriotic  gentlemen  who  were  leaders 
under  him.  They  are  omitted,  not  from  any  want 
of  a  due  appreciation  of  their  services,  but  because 
we  have  not  room  for  these  particulars:  we  are  not 
writing  a  history  of  the  war,  but  recounting  the 
public  services  of  one  distinguished  individual.  His 
meritorious  deeds,  with  those  of  other  gentlemen, 
whose  services  deserve  equally  to  be  remembered 
by  their  countrymen,  will  be  found  related  in  more 
minute  detail,  in  the  several  histories  of  the  war. 
We  make  this  explanation  now,  that  none  may  ex 
pect  to  find  in  this  work  more  than  it  professes  to 
give — a  biography  of  Harrison. 

A  few  remarks  only  are  necessary  as  to  the  great 
objects  of  the  campaign,  and  its  leading  movements. 
To  recapture  Detroit,  and  to  break  up  the  power 
of  the  enemy  by  driving  them  from  Maiden,  were 
the  main  purposes;  while  it  was  necessary  in  ihe 
mean  while  to  watch  the  movements  of  their  troops, 
and  defend  the  frontier  settlements.  Before  Gene 
ral  Harrison  arrived  at  Defiance,  he  had  already 
formed  a  plan  of  operations,  which  elicited  from 
the  gallant  and  accomplished  engineer,  Colonel 
Wood,  the  highest  encomium  on  the  military  ge 
nius  of  the  commander-in-chief.  The  point  from 
which  the  principal  movement  upon  the  enemy  was 
to  be  made,  was  the  Rapids  of  the  Miami  of  the 
17 


194  MEMOIR    OF 

Lake.  This  was  the  point  of  concentration.  A 
military  base  was  formed,  extending  from  Upper 
Sandusky  on  the  right,  to  Fort  Defiance  on  the 
left.  At  these  extreme  points  the  right  and  left 
corps  of  the  army  were  to  be  assembled ;  the  right 
division,  to  be  composed  of  a  Virginia  and  a  Penn 
sylvania  brigade,  the  general  selected  for  his  own 
personal  command.  The  left,  composed  of  the 
troops  then  at  Defiance,  and  three  Kentucky  regi 
ments,  then  at  or  near  St.  Mary's,  was  commanded 
by  General  Winchester;  and  the  centre  corps,  com 
posed  of  a  brigade  of  the  Ohio  quota  of  militia,  as 
sembled  at  Fort  M'Arthur,  was  commanded  by 
Brigadier  Tupper,  of  Ohio.  Each  of  these  corps 
had  a  separate  line  of  operation^  terminating  at  the 
Rapids.  "  This,"  says  Colonel  Wood,  "  was  an 
excellent  plan ;  for,  by  sending  the  corps  by  differ 
ent  routes,  with  a  view  of  concentrating  somewhere 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  enemy,  the  march  of 
the  army  would  not  only  be  expedited,  but  the  fron 
tiers  much  more  effectually  protected." 

General  Harrison  caused  a  new  fort  to  be  erect 
ed  on  the  Au  Glaise,  near  the  old  one,  and  another 
on  the  same  river  about  twelve  miles  from  St. 
Mary's ;  while  he  instructed  General  Winchester 
to  direct  his  attention  for  the  present  chiefly  to  the 
transportation  of  supplies  to  Defiance,  for  the  main 
expedition  against  Detroit. 

We  pass  over  a  number  of  minor  operations, 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  195 

which  we  have  not  room  to  detail.  General  Har 
rison  proceeded  by  Piqua  to  Urbana,  and  from  the 
latter  place  to  Franklinton,  employing  himself  ac 
tively  in  expediting  the  march  of  troops  towards 
the  frontier,  and  in  forwarding  artillery  and  sup 
plies.  The  troops  at  different  points  were  actively 
engaged  ;  those  under  Winchester  completed  Fort 
Winchester;  the  regiment  of  Barbee  at  St.  Mary's 
built  Fort  Barbee  ;  Poague's  regiment  erected  Fort 
Amand  on  the  Au  Glaise ;  and  Colonel  Jennings 
threw  up  a  fortified  work  at  his  encampment. 

These  regiments  were  also  actively  engaged  in 
preparing  boats  and  canoes,  in  escorting  provisions 
and  stores,  and  in  other  duties  preparatory  to  the 
object  of  the  campaign. 

The  hardships  borne  by  the  troops,  and  the  diffi 
culties  to/  be  surmounted  in  carrying  forward  the 
views  of  the  government,  were  of  a  character  and 
magnitude,  of  which  those  who  have  not  been  en 
gaged  in  similar  scenes  can  have  little  conception. 
In  the  voluminous  correspondence  of  General  Har 
rison  with  the  government,  these  are  forcibly  point 
ed  out;  and  we  regret  that  our  limits  will  not  allow 
us  to  quote  from  those  letters  as  extensively  as  we 
could  wish.*  In  one  of  them,  written  on  the  22d 
of  October,  he  remarks,  "  I  am  not  able  to  fix  any 

*  They  may  be  found  in  Niles'  Register,  M'Affee's  His 
tory,  and  Dawson's  Life  of  Harrison. 


196  MEMOIR    OF 

period  for  the  advance  of  the  troops  to  Detroit.  It 
is  pretty  evident  that  it  cannot  be  done  on  proper 
principles,  until  the  frost  shall  become  so  severe  as 
to  enable  us  to  use  the  rivers  and  the  margin  of 
the  lake  for  the  transportation  of  baggage  on  the 
ice.  To  get  supplies  forward  through  a  swampy 
wilderness  of  near  two  hundred  miles,  in  wagons 
or  on  pack-horses,  which  are  to  carry  their  own 
provisions,  is  absolutely  impossible."  "  No  spe 
cies  of  supplies  are  calculated  on  being  found  in  the 
Michigan  territory.  The  farms  upon  the  River 
Raisin,  which  might  have  afforded  a  quantity  of 
forage,  are  nearly  all  broken  up  and  destroyed. 
This  article,  then,  as  well  as  the  provisions  for  the 
men,  is  to  be  taken  from  this  state — a  circumstance 
which  must  at  once  put  to  rest  every  idea  of  a  land 
conveyance  at  this  season,  since  it  would  require 
at  least  two  wagons  with  forage,  for  each  one  that 
is  loaded  with  provisions  and  other  articles." 

On  the  15th  of  November  he  writes,  "  You  can 
scarcely  form  an  idea,  sir,  of  the  difficulty  with 
which  land  transportation  is  effected  north  of  the 
fortieth  degree  of  latitude  in  this  country.  The 
country  beyond  that  is  almost  a  continued  swamp 
to  the  lakes.  Where  the  streams  run  favourably 
to  your  course,  a  small  strip  of  better  ground  is 
generally  found ;  but  in  crossing  from  one  river  to 
another,  the  greater  part  of  the  way,  at  this  season, 
is  covered  with  water.  Such  is  actually  the  situa- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  197 

tion  of  that  space  between  the  Sandusky  and"  the 
Miami  Rapids;  and  from  the  best  information  I 
could  acquire,  while  I  was  at  Huron,  the  road  over 
it  must  be  causewayed  at  least  half  the  way." 

The  autumn  of  this  year  was  thus  passed  in 
laborious  preparations  for  active  service — in  col 
lecting  troops,  in  building  forts,  in  creating  depots, 
in  cutting  roads,  in  opening  resources  for  supplies, 
and  in  organizing  the  various  departments  of  the 
army. 

A  few  minor  operations  in  the  field  only  were 
attempted,  for  the  purpose  of  driving  back  the  par 
ties  of  the  enemy,  or  dislodging  them  from  posts 
from  which  they  could  annoy  our  troops,  or  em 
barrass  the  plans  of  the  commander-in-chief.  One 
under  General  Tupper  was  unsuccessful ;  another 
under  the  same  officer  was,  according  to  M'Affee, 
boldly  attempted,  and^the  object  partially  attained. 
The  expedition  sent  by  General  Harrison  to  the 
Mississineway  River,  consisting  of  six  hundred 
men,  under  Lieutenant  Colonel  Campbell,  was 
handsomely  conducted,  and  brilliantly  successful. 
An  Indian  village,  fortified,  and  well  defended,  was 
gallantly  assailed,  and  taken  after  a  spirited  action 
of  an  hour.  Eight  of  our  men  were  killed,  and 
forty-eight  wounded — but  a  large  number  was  ren 
dered  unfit  for  duty  by  fatigue,  exposure  to  frost, 
and  sickness.  In  the  general  order,  issued  on  the 
return  of  the  troops,  the  commander-in-chief  com- 
17* 


198  MEMOIR    OF 

mends  the  firmness  with  which  they  endured  the 
extraordinary  hardships  to  which  they  were  sub 
jected,  as  well  as  their  bravery  and  good  conduct 
in  battle.  "  But  the  character  of  this  gallant  de 
tachment,"  continues  General  Harrison,  "  exhibit 
ing,  as  it  did,  perseverance,  fortitude,  and  bravery, 
would,  however,  be  incomplete,  if,  in  the  midst  of 
victory,  they  had  forgotten  the  feelings  of  human 
ity.  It  is  with  the  sincerest  pleasure  that  the  gene 
ral  has  heard,  that  the  most  punctual  obedience 
was  paid  to  his  orders,  in  not  only  saving  all  the 
women  and  children,  but  in  sparing  all  the  war 
riors  who  ceased  to  resist;  and  that  even  when 
vigorously  attacked  by  the  enemy,  the  claims  of 
mercy  prevailed  over  every  sense  of  their  own  dan 
ger,  and  this  heroic  band  respected  the  lives  of  their 
prisoners.  Let  an  account  of  murdered  innocence 
be  opened  in  the  records  of  heaven,  against  our 
enemies  alone.  The  American  soldier  will  follow 
the  example  of  his  government ;  and  the  sword  of 
one  will  not  be  raised  against  the  fallen  and  help 
less,  nor  the  gold  of  the  other  be  paid  for  the  scalps 
of  a  massacred  enemy."  These  are  noble  senti 
ments,  finely  expressed. 

Until  late  in  the  season,  General  Harrison  con 
tinued  to  indulge  the  hope,  that  he  should  be  able 
to  overcome  the  numerous  obstacles  which  prevent 
ed  his  moving  in  force  against  the  enemy,  and  that 
he  would  eventually  close  the  campaign  by  the  cap- 


WILLIAM   HENRY    HARRISON.  199 

ture  of  Maiden.  Reserving  his  army  for  this  grand 
object,  he  avoided  all  unnecessary  exposure  of  the 
troops,  abstained  from  sending  out  detachments 
which  might  have  been  cut  off  by  lurking  bodies 
of  Indians,  and  by  which,  even  if  successful,  the 
strength  of  the  army  would  have  been  weakened, 
without  commensurate  advantage. 

In  the  mean  while  he  urged  upon  the  govern 
ment  the  importance  of  creating  a  navy  upon  the 
lakes.  In  one  of  his  letters  he  remarks — "Admit 
ting  that  Maiden  and  Detroit  are  both  taken,  Maci- 
naw  and  St.  Joseph's  will  both  remain  in  the  hands 
of  the  enemy,  until  we  can  create  a  force  capable 
of  contending  with  the  vessels  which  the  British 
have  in  Lake  Michigan,  and  which  they  will  be 
enabled  to  maintain  there  as  long  as  the  canoe 
route  by  Grand  River  and  Lake  Nipissin  shall 
remain,  and  for  six  months  after."  The  sagacity 
of  this  suggestion  was  afterwards  fully  proved  by 
the  splendid  achievement  of  Perry,  and  the  import 
ant  results  which  followed  from  the  acquisition  of 
the  naval  ascendency  upon  the  lakes. 

As  the  season  advanced,  and  the  difficulties  which 
impeded  the  preparation  of  the  army  for  active  ope 
rations  increased,  General  Harrison  was  reluctantly 
compelled  to  abandon  the  idea  of  taking  Maiden 
during  this  campaign,  and  to  advise  the  government 
of  the  necessity  of  postponing  a  movement  for  that 
purpose,  which  could  only  be  made  at  a  sacrifice 


200  MEMOIR    OF 

of  life,  and  a  risk  of  failure,  which  in  his  opinion 
would  not  be  warrantable,  under  any  correct  mili 
tary  principles.  Mr.  Monroe,  then  acting  as  Sec 
retary  of  War,  replied  as  follows  : — 

"At  this  distance,  and  with  an  imperfect  know 
ledge  of  the  actual  state  of  things,  it  is  impossible 
for  the  President  to  decide,  satisfactorily  to  himself, 
or  with  advantage  to  the  public,  whether  it  is  prac 
ticable  for  you  to  accomplish  the  objects  of  the  ex 
pedition,  in  their  full  extent,  during  the  present 
winter.  No  person  can  be  so  competent  to  that 
decision  as  yourself:  and  the  President  has  great 
confidence  in  the  solidity  of  the  opinion  which  you 
may  form.  He  wishes  you  to  weigh  maturely  this 
important  subject,  and  take  that  part  which  your 
judgment  may  dictate." 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  201 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Events  in  Indiana  and  Illinois — Movements  on  the 
North-western  frontier — Massacre  at  the  River 
Raisin. 

ON  the  3d  of  September,  a  body  of  Kickapoo 
and  Winnebago  Indians  assembled  at  Fort  Harri 
son  on  the  Wabash,  and  endeavoured  by  treacher 
ous  pretences  of  friendship  to  gain  admission.  Cap 
tain  Zachary  Taylor,  who  commanded,  was  not 
deceived  by  this  stratagem ;  but  kept  his  garrison 
prepared  to  defend  the  post ;  and  on  the  4th  an  as 
sault  was  made.  The  enemy  was  repelled  with 
gallantry. 

Exasperated  by  the  failure  of  this  attempt,  a 
large  war-party  of  savages  broke  into  the  settle 
ments  on  the  Pigeon  Roost  Fork  of  White  River, 
where  they  massacred,  under  circumstances  of  the 
most  shocking  barbarity,  twenty-one  persons,  in 
cluding  women  and  children.  These  Indians,  it 
will  be  recollected,  were  regularly  in  the  pay  of  the 
British  government,  as  their  allies.  Such  was  the 
character  of  the  war  carried  on  against  us,  for  the 
purpose  of  enforcing  an  alleged  right  to  impress 
our  seamen,  and  of  reducing  us  to  a  state  of  depend 
ence,  by  a  civilized  and  Christian  people. 


202  MEMOIR    OF 

An  escort  of  provisions,  of  thirteen  men,  on  its 
way  to  Fort  Harrison,  was  also  surprised,  and 
literally  cut  to  pieces. 

The  Illinois  and  Missouri  territories  became  the 
scenes  of  similar  atrocities ;  and  Governor  Edwards, 
of  Illinois,  made  strong  appeals  to  the  government, 
and  to  the  governors  of  the  neighbouring  states,  for 
assistance. 

Colonel  Russel,  a  veteran  officer  of  the  U.  S. 
army,  commanding  in  this  region,  hastened  to 
cover  the  exposed  points,  by  sending  such  volun 
teers  as  could  be  raised  to  Fort  Harrison,  assisting 
the  governor  of  Illinois  in  organizing  the  militia, 
and  employing  the  rangers  on  the  borders  of  Mis 
souri. 

It  is  only  necessary  to  glance  at  the  map,  to  dis 
cover  the  distance  of  these  various  points  from  each 
other,  the  total  inadequateness  of  the  means  at  the 
disposal  of  the  officers  whose  duty  it  became  to 
defend  them,  and  the  great  responsibility  imposed 
upon  those  gentlemen.  Upon  General  Harrison, 
as  the  commander-in-chief,  charged  with  the  care 
of  this  widely-extended  field  of  action,  fell  of  course 
the  chief  weight,  and  upon  him  were  the  eyes  of 
the  country  directed,  for  its  defence;  but  other  offi 
cers  acting  at  a  distance  from  head  quarters,  were 
often  obliged  to  use  a  liberal  discretion  in  the  direc 
tion  of  their  own  talents,  and  the  patriotism  of  their 
fellow-citizens. 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  203 

Governor  Shelby,  whose  zealous  patriotism  has 
rendered  his  name  so  conspicuous  in  the  annals  of 
this  war,  made  an  eloquent  appeal  to  the  people  of 
Kentucky,  setting  forth  the  critical  condition  of  the 
more  exposed  portions  of  the  frontier,  and  calling 
for  the  aid  of  volunteer  soldiers.  Such  was  the 
alacrity  with  which  this  summons  was  obeyed, 
that  2000  mounted  men  were  immediately  assem 
bled  at  Louisville,  and  other  points  on  the  Ohio — 
while  so  great  was  the  excess  of  numbers,  that 
many  others  were  turned  back.  One  old  veteran, 
belonging  to  a  company  whose  services  were  not 
accepted,  after  venting  his  disappointment,  was 
heard  to  remark,  "Well,  well,  Kentucky  has  often 
glutted  the  market  with  hemp,  flour,  and  tobacco ; 
and  now  she  has  done  it  with  volunteers." 

These  troops  were,  by  General  Harrison's  ap 
pointment,  assembled  at  Vincennes,  about  the  1st 
of  October,  where  the  army  was  organized,  and 
the  command  assumed  by  General  Samuel  Hop 
kins,  of  the  Kentucky  militia.  The  Wabash  was 
crossed,  and  a  march  attempted  over  the  boundless 
plains  of  Illinois,  towards  the  Kickapoo  villages 
on  the  Illinois  river.  Deceived  by  the  guides, 
however,  several  days  were  spent  in  wandering  in 
different  directions,  without  advancing  far  towards 
the  point  of  destination.  Provisions  became  scarce, 
and  both  horses  and  men  were  sinking  under  fa 
tigue.  Under  these  circumstances,  it  was  deter- 


204  MEMOIR    OF 

mined  to  return.  The  expedition  was  considered 
to  have  failed  in  its  principal  object ;  and  mortified 
pride  induced  the  men  to  cast  severe  reflections 
upon  their  leader.  But  a  court  of  inquiry,  after 
wards  held,  at  the  request  of  General  Hopkins,  de 
cided  that  his  conduct  merited  the  applause,  rather 
than  the  censure,  of  his  country.  Perhaps  all  that 
could  have  been  expected  from  an  army  thus  has 
tily  raised,  and  wholly  unfurnished  with  provisions 
and  munitions,  was  accomplished — the  frontier  was 
covered  at  that  point,  for  the  moment,  the  depre 
dators  were  induced  to  withdraw,  and  the  inhabit 
ants  relieved  from  their  present  panic. 

After  dismissing  the  mounted  men,  General  Hop 
kins  led  a  body  of  infantry  from  Fort  Harrison 
against  the  Indians  on  the  Wabash.  The  march 
was  commenced  on  the  llth  of  November,  and 
conducted  with  great  caution.  On  the  19th  they 
arrived  at  the  Prophet's  Town,  which  was  destroy 
ed — as  were  a  Winnebago  village,  a  few  miles 
lower  down,  and  a  Kickapoo  village,  on  the  western 
side  of  the  river.  The  operations  were  continued 
until  the  24th,  when  the  "  shoeless,  shirtless  condi 
tion  of  the  troops,  now  clad  in  remnants  of  their 
summer  clothes ;  a  river  full  of  ice ;  hills  covered 
with  snow ;  a  rigid  climate,  and  no  certain  point 
against  which  he  could  further  direct  his  opera 
tions,"  induced  the  general  to  return  to  Vincennes. 

A  successful  enterprise  was  in  the  mean  while 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  205 

conducted  against  the  Kickapoos  by  Governor  Ed 
wards  and  Colonel  Russell.  Their  principal  vil 
lage,  at  the  head  of  Peoria  Lake,  was  surprised,  a 
large  number  of  warriors  killed,  their  corn  de 
stroyed,  and  about  eighty  horses  captured. 

Returning  now  to  the  events  occurring  in  the 
vicinity  of  head  quarters,  we  propose  to  conclude 
our  brief  sketch  of  this  campaign,  by  narrating  the 
melancholy  catastrophe  at  the  River  Raisin.  - 

According  to  the  plan  of  the  campaign,  and  the 
instructions  of  the  commanding  general,  it  was  ex 
pected  by  him,  that  on  his  arrival  at  Upper  San- 
dusky,  about  the  18th  of  December,  he  should  be 
advised  of  the  advance  of  Winchester  to  the  Rap 
ids.  Not  receiving  this  information,  he  forwarded, 
by  Ensign  Todd,  of  Kentucky — who  performed 
the  dangerous  duty  with  signal  dispatch  and  skill — 
a  reiterated  order,  instructing  General  Winchester, 
that  as  soon  as  he  had  accumulated  provisions  for 
twenty  days,  he  was  authorized  to  advance  to  the 
Rapids,  where  he  was  to  commence  the  building 
.of  huts,  to  induce  the  enemy  to  believe  that  he  was 
going  into  winter  quarters — that  he  was  to  construct 
sleds  for  the  main  expedition  against  Maiden,  but 
to  impress  it  on  the  minds  of  his  men  that  they 
were  for  transporting  provisions  from  the  interior — 
that  the  different  lines  of  the  army  would  be  con 
centrated  at  that  place,  and  a  choice  detachment 
from  the  whole  would  then  be  marched  rapidly  on 
18 


206  MEMOIR    OF 

Maiden — thai  in  the  mean  while  he  was  to  occupy 
the  Rapids,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  the  provi 
sions  and  stores  forwarded  from  the  other  wings 
of  the  army. 

The  left  wing  having  in  the  mean  while  received r 
on  the  22d  of  December,  a  moderate  supply  of 
provisions,  General  Winchester  was  preparing  to 
march ;  and  on  the  30th  of  the  same  month,  that 
wing  moved  for  the  Rapids.  To  apprise  General 
Harrison  of  this  movement,  Mr.  Leslie  Combs,  a 
gallant  young  gentleman  of  the  Kentucky  volun 
teers,  was  sent  with  a  dispatch,  which  he  carried 
through  the  wilderness,  on  foot,  accompanied  by  a 
single  guide,  a  distance  of  more  than  a  hundred 
miles,  to  the  point  of  destination.  Owing  to  the 
perils  and  difficulties  of  the  way,  this  dispatch  was 
delayed  five  days  longer  than  had  been  anticipated ; 
and  in  the  mean  while  General  Winchester  received 
a  communication  from  the  commander-in-chief,  re 
commending  to  him  to  abandon  the  movement  upon 
the  Rapids,  and  fall  back  with  the  greater  part  of 
his  force  to  Fort  Jennings.  General  Harrison  had 
learned  that  Tecumthe  had  collected  a  large  force 
on  the  head  waters  of  the  Wabash ;  and  he  gave 
this  advice  to  Winchester,  under  the  apprehension 
that  the  advance  of  the  left  wing  would  afford  to 
this  enterprising  chief  an  opportunity  to  attack  and 
destroy  the  provisions  left  on  its  line  of  operations 
in  the  rear.  But  Winchester  having  commenced 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  207 

his  march ,*did  not  conceive  himself  bound  by  this 
instruction  to  change  his  plan. 

On  the  10th  of  January,  the  left  wing  reached 
the  Rapids,  and  Winchester  established  his  camp 
on  the  north  bank  of  the  river,  at  a  good  position, 
which  he  fortified. 

From  the  13th  to  the  16th,  several  messengers 
successively  arrived  from  the  River  Raisin,  with 
intelligence  from  the  settlement  there,  that  a  great 
panic  prevailed,  in  consequence  of  an  expected  in 
cursion  of  the  Indians,  and  with  urgent  entreaties 
to  General  Winchester  for  protection.  These  solici 
tations  were  seconded  by  an  ardent  desire  on  the 
part  of  the  troops  to  advance ;  and  at  a  council  of 
officers  called  by  the  general,  a  majority  decided 
upon  sending  forward  a  strong  detachment.  On 
the  17th,  Colonel  Lewis  was  detached  with  550 
men  to  the  River  Raisin,  and  at  a  later  hour  of  the 
same  day,  Colonel  Allen  followed  with  110  men. 
A  dispatch  was  prepared  for  General  Harrison,  by 
Winchester,  announcing  these  proceedings;  but  be- 
fore  it  was  sent,  information  was  received  from 
Colonel  Lewis,  at  Presque  Isle,  twenty  miles  in 
advance,  that  400  Indians  were  at  the  River  Rai 
sin,  and  that  Colonel  Elliot  was  expected  from 
Maiden,  with  a  detachment  designed  to  attack  the 
camp  at  the  Rapids.  This  intelligence  was  added 
to  the  letter. 

Lewis,  intending  to  anticipate  Elliot,   pushed 


208  MEMOIR    OF 

forward  for  Frenchtown,  a  village  midway  between 
Presque  Isle  and  Maiden,  and  distant  from  each 
eighteen  miles.  After  a  laborious  march  the  de 
tachment  reached  the  vicinity  of,  Frenchtown,  and 
found  the  enemy  prepared  to  receive  them.  It  was 
gallantly  determined  to  attack  them  ;  and  after  a 
short  halt,  the  troops  were  formed  for  action.  The 
right,  commanded  by  Allen,,  was  composed  of  the 
companies  of  M'Cracken,  Bledsoe,  and  Matson ; 
the  left,  under  Major  Graves,  was  composed  of 
the  companies  of  Hamilton,  Williams,  and  Kelly  ; 
the  centre,  under  Major  Madison,  consisted  of  the 
companies  of  Hightower,  Collier,  and  Sebree ;  and 
the  advanced  guard,  led  by  Captain  Ballard,  in 
cluded  the  companies  of  Hickman,  Glaves,  and 
James. 

They  advanced  in  three  lines,  and  found  the 
enemy  posted  among  the  houses  in  the  village. 
Graves  and  Madison  were  ordered  to  dislodge  them, 
which  they  gallantly  did, — advancing  with  their 
battalions  under  a  galling  fire.  The  routed  enemy, 
attempting  to  retreat,  were  met  by  Allen  at  some 
distance  on  the  right,  and  driven  to  the  woods. 
Here  they  made  a  stand,  covered  by  some  houses, 
fences,  and  brushwood  ;  but  our  brave  troops  con 
tinued  to  advance,  and,  after  a  hot  engagement, 
again  forced  them  to  retire.  Thus  they  were  driven 
fpr  two  miles,  under  ,an  unremitted  succession  of 
charges  made  by  this  intrepid  band  of  Kentuckians, 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  209 

who  had  marched  on  that  day  eighteen  miles 
through  the  frost  and  over  ice,  and  were  so  much 
exhausted,  that  nothing  but  the  dauntless  spirit  of 
a  noble  zeal  could  have  sustained  them.  The  action 
commenced  at  3  o'clock,  and  the  pursuit  was  con- 
tinued  until  dark.  The  victory  was  decisive — and 
as  General  Harrison  handsomely  remarked  after 
wards,  "the  troops  amply  supported  the  double 
character  of  Americans  and  Kentuckians."  Our 
loss  was  twelve  killed  and  fifty-five  wounded,  that 
of  the  enemy  much  greater.  They  were  command 
ed  by  Major  Reynolds,  of  the  British  army,  who 
had  under  him  about  100  British  regulars,  and  400 
Indians. 

It  is  to  be  greatly  regretted,  that  after  so  signal 
a  triumph,  this  fine  detachment  had  not  retired,  or 
that  General  Harrison  had  not  been  apprised  of 
these  movements  in  time  to  support  them. 

Lewis  determined  to  maintain  his  position  at 
Frenchtown ;  and  Winchester,  on  receiving  intelli 
gence  of  the  victory,  approved  the  decision  of 
Lewis,  hastened  to  support  him  with  all  his  troops, 
and  on  the  21st  established  his  head  quarters  at 
Frenchtown,  which  he  determined  to  fortify  the 
next  day.  Colonel  Wells  was  sent  to  the  Rapids, 
where  he  met  General  Harrison,  who  had  arrived 
there  the  day  before,  and  was  making  every  effort 
to  hasten  forward  the  reinforcements. 

The  advices  sent  by  Winchester  to  Harrison  had 
18* 


210  MEMOIR    OF 

all  been  delayed  by  accidents  incident  to  the  wil 
derness  and  the  season ;  and  he  was  now  endea 
vouring  to  support  movements  which  he  could  not 
have  foreseen,  and  of  which  he  was  recently  and 
unexpectedly  apprised.  This,  with  his  feeble  and 
scattered  means,  in  the  depth  of  a  northern  winter, 
and  in  the  impracticable  state  of  that  wilderness 
region,  was  a  hopeless  undertaking ;  but  unpromis 
ing  as  it  was,  it  was  attempted  with  zeal  and  ear 
nestness  ;  and  on  the  20th  he  dispatched  Captain 
Hart  with  instructions  to  Winchester,  to  maintain 
the  position  at  the  River  Raisin. 

No  sooner  had  the  British  at  Maiden  heard  of  the 
advance  of  the  Americans  upon  Frenchtown,  than 
the  decision  to  attack  them  there  was  made  and 
promptly  executed.  The  assault  was  commenced 
on  the  morning  of  the  22d,  by  the  opening  of  a 
heavy  battery  at  the  distance  of  three  hundred 
yards  from  our  lines,  discharging  bombs,  .balls, 
and  grape-shot.  The  enemy  had  approached  in 
the  night  in  profound  silence.  Our  troops  were 
outnumbered,  and  a  part  only  were  protected  by 
temporary  breastworks.  The  assailants  rushed 
forward  to  the  charge,  with  the  bayonet  and  the 
tomahawk,  amid  the  loud  yells  of  the  savage. 
From  the  camp  of  Lewis,  which  was  surrounded 
with  pickets,  they  were  repulsed  ;  but  the  reinforce 
ment  which  had  arrived  under  Winchester,  and 
was  unprotected  by  any  work,  was  overpowered, 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  211 

and,  forced  to  give  back.  s  General  Winchester 
hastened  to  the  scene  of  action,  and  endeavoured 
ineffectually  to  rally  the  broken  lines.  But  the 
British  pressed  upon  the  disordered  troops,  the  In 
dians  gained  their  right  flank,  and  the  men  began 
to  retreat  in  confusion  across  the  river.  Lewis  and 
Allen  gallantly  endeavoured  to  regain  the  ground 
that  had  been  lost,  but  in  vain ;  the  Indians  had 
now  gained  the  other  flank,  and  were  in  possession 
of  the  woods  in  the  rear.  Confusion  increased  ;  a 
large  party  of  our  troops  which  had  reached  the 
woods  were  surrounded,  and  massacred  without 
distinction  and  without  mercy.  Nearly  one  hun 
dred  were  tomahawked  at  one  spot.  Every  fugi 
tive  was  slaughtered.  The  brave  Allen,  after  being 
badly  wounded,  and  retreating  two  miles,  surren 
dered  to  an  Indian ;  another  savage  assailed  him, 
and  Allen,  with  a  blow  of  his  sword,  struck  the 
assassin  dead,  and  was  himself  shot  down  by  a 
third  Indian. 

Lieutenant  Garrett  having  surrendered  himself, 
with  a  party  of  fifteen  or  twenty  men,  all  but  him 
self  were  instantly  butchered.  Another  party,  of 
^hirty  men,  had  retreated  three  miles,  when  they 
were  surrounded  and  compelled  to  surrender;  half 
of  them  were  murdered.  Winchester  and  Lewis 
were  taken,  and  their  coats  stripped  off;  in  this  con 
dition  they  were  taken  to  Colonel  Proctor's  head 
quarters. 


212  MEMOIR    OF 

The  troops  within  the*  picketing,  under  Graves 
and  Madison,  still  maintained  that  position  with  Spar 
tan  valour.  Major  Graves,  when  severely  wound 
ed,  sat  down,  exclaiming,  "  Never  mind  me — fight 
on."  Proctor,  at  length,  wearied  with  the  ineffec 
tual  sacrifice  of  his  men,  withdrew  his  mercenary 
troops  and  savage  allies  from  the  vain  attempt  to 
dislodge  this  little  band  of  heroes. 

But  Proctor  at  length  procured,  by  an  act  of  in 
describable  baseness,  that  which  he  could  not  effect 
by  valour-  He  represented  to  General  Winchester, 
his  captive,  that  unless  the  remainder  of  our  troops 
should  surrender,  the  whole  of  the  prisoners  would 
be  given  up  to  the  tomahawk.  Shocked  as  the 
general  must  have  been  by  so  brutal  a  violation  of 
the  laws  of  war,  he  had  seen  enough  to  satisfy  him 
that  he  was  in  the  power  of  a  monster,  who  only 
required  an  apology  to  steep  his  hands  still  more 
deeply  in  blood.  A  flag  was  sent  by  him,  there 
fore,  with  an  order  to  Major  Madison  to  surrender, 
borne  by  Major  Overton,  the  aid  of  Winchester, 
and  accompanied  by  Proctor.  The  latter  insolently 
demanded  an  immediate  surrender — threatening,  in 
case  of  refusal,  to  deliver  over  the  whole  garrison 
to  the  vengeance  of  the  Indians.  Major  Madison 
observed,  "  That  it  had  been  customary  for  the  In 
dians  to  massacre  the  wounded  and  prisoners,  and 
that  he  would  not  agree  to  any  capitulation  which 
General  Winchester  might  direct,  unless  the  safety 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  213 

and  protection  of  his  men  were  stipulated."  Colo 
nel  Proctor  said,  "  Sir.  do  you  mean  to  dictate  to 
me?"  "No,"  replied  the  brave  Madison,  "I  intend 
to  dictate  for  myself,  and  we  prefer  selling  our  lives 
as  dearly  as  possible,  rather  than  be  massacred  in 
cold  blood."  Proctor  then  received  the  surrender, 
on  the  conditions  that  private  property  should  be 
respected,  that  the  prisoners  should  be  protected  by 
a  guard,  the  sick  and  wounded  removed  on  sleds, 
and  the  officers  allowed  to  retain  their  side-arms. 

We  forbear  to  shock  our  readers  by  recounting 
in  detail  the  atrocities  that  ensued,  and  which  have 
covered  the  name  of  Proctor  with  eternal  infamy. 
The  prisoners  thus  taken  were  given  over  to  the 
Indians  to  be  slain  in  cold  blood.  A  few  were 
saved  by  the  interposition  of  some  of  the  officers. 
Graves,  Hart,  Hickman,  and  other  gallant  officers, 
with  their  brave  companions,  were  coldly  delivered 
up,  by  British  officers,  to  the  infuriated  Indians,  and 
butchered  in  their  presence.  Some  of  their  bodies 
were  thrown  into  the  flames  of  the  burning  village. 
and  others,  shockingly  mangled,  left  exposed  in 
the  streets.  Major  Woolfolk,  the  secretary  of 
Winchester,  was  shot  some  days  after  his  capture, 
and  Major  Graves  murdered  at  some  later  period, 
which  has  never  been  ascertained.  For  several 
days  this  horrid  tragedy  continued  to  be  acted ; 
and  every  prisoner  who  became  exhausted  in  the 


214  MEMOIR    OF 

march  towards  Maiden,  was  handed  over  to  the 
savage. 

The  historian  M'AfFee  indignantly  remarks, "  For 
the  massacre  at  the  River  Raisin,  for  which  any 
other  civilized  government  would  have  dismissed, 
and  perhaps  have  gibbeted  the  commander,  Colo 
nel  Proctor  received  the  rank  of  major  general  in 
the  British  army !"  So  far  from  disgracing  the 
perpetrator  of  such  atrocities,  he  was  rewarded ; 
and  the  commander  of  the  forces  in  Upper  Canada, 
in  a  general  order  distinguished  for  its  falsehood 
and  malignity,  boasted  of  this  "  brilliant  action," 
and  of  the  "  gallantry"  of  Proctor,  which  he  de 
clares  to  have  been  "  nobly  displayed  !" 

Pursuing  the  account  of  M'Affee,  we  quote  the 
following  paragraphs : — 

"  A  disaster  so  calamitous  would  necessarily  ex 
cite  much  discussion  with  respect  to  its  causes ;  and 
as  much  blame  \vas  thrown  upon  those  who  com 
mitted  no  error,  and  who  were  not  instrumental  in 
causing  the  defeat  of  Winchester,  which  proved  to 
be  the  defeat  of  the  campaign,  it  may  not  be  amiss 
to  vindicate,  in  a  cursory  manner,  the  conduct  of 
those  on  whom  public  opinion,  or  the  censure  of 
their  enemies,  was  unjustly  severe.  General  Har 
rison  was  blamed  by  his  enemies  for  the  advance 
of  the  detachment  to  the  River  Raisin  ;  for  not  rein, 
forcing  it  in  time ;  or,  finding  that  impracticable, 


WILLLOL    HENRY    HARRISON.  215 

for  not  ordering  a  retreat ;  besides  many  other 
matters  of  less  importance. 

"  It  is  evident  from  the  statement  of  facts  alrea 
dy  made,  that  General  Harrison  is  not  answerable 
for  the  advance  of  the  detachment.  It  was  sent  by 
General  Winchester,  without  the  knowledge  or 
consent  of  Harrison,  and  contrary  to  his  views  and 
plans  for  the  future  conduct  of  the  campaign,  and 
to  the  instructions  communicated  with  his  plans 
through  Ensign  Todd,  before  the  left  wing  had 
marched  for  the  Rapids.  If  the  advance  was  im 
proper,  the  blame  does  not  lie  upon  Harrison ;  if  it 
was  proper,  General  Winchester  is  entitled  to  the 
credit  of  having  ordered  it.  The  following  extract 
from  the  journal  of  Colonel  Wood,  shows  the  im 
pression  made  at  head  quarters  by  the  first  intelli 
gence  of  the  advance  received  at  that  place. 

" '  This  news  for  a  moment  paralyzed  the  army, 
or  at  least  the  thinking  part  of  it,  for  no  one  could 
imagine  that  it  was  possible  for  him  to  be  guilty  of 
such  a  hazardous  step.  General  Harrison  was 
astonished  at  the  imprudence  and  inconsistency  of 
such  a  measure,  which  if  carried  into  execution, 
could  be  viewed  in  no  other  light  than  as  attended 
with  certain  and  inevitable  destruction  to  the  left 
wing.  Nor  was  it  a  difficult  matter  to  foresee  and 
predict  the  terrible  consequences  which  were  sure  to 
mark  the  result  of  a  scheme,  no  less  rash  in  its 
conception,  than  hazardous  in  its  execution.' " 


216  MEMOIR    OF 

"  With  respect  to  reinforcing  the  detachment," 
continues  M'Affee,  "  a  recurrence  to  facts  equally 
proves  that  Harrison  is  not  blameable,  as  he  made 
every  exertion  in  his  power  to  support  it.  It  was 
not  until  the  night  of  the  16th  that  he  received  in 
formation  indirectly  through  General  Perkins,  that 
Winchester  had  arrived  at  the  Rapids.  By  the 
same  express  he  was  advised  that  Winchester  medi 
tated  some  unknown  movement  against  the  enemy. 
Alarmed  at  this  information,  he  immediately  made 
every  exertion  which  the  situation  of  his  affairs 
required.  He  was  then  at  Upper  Sandusky,  his 
principal  deposit  of  provisions  and  munitions  of 
war,  which  is  sixty  miles  from  the  Rapids  by  the 
way  of  Portage  river,  and  seventy-six  by  the  way 
of  Lower  Sandusky ;  and  about  thirty-eight  more 
from  the  River  Raisin.  He  immediately  sent  an 
express  to  the  Rapids,  for  information  ;  gave  orders 
for  a  corps  of  300  men  to  advance  with  the  artil 
lery,  and  escorts  to  proceed  with  provisions ;  and 
in  the  morning  he  proceeded  himself  to  Lower 
Sandusky,  at  which  place  he  arrived  in  the  night 
following,  a  distance  of  forty  miles,  which  he  trav 
elled  in  seven  hours  and  a  half,  over  roads  requir 
ing  such  exertion,  that  the  horse  of  his  aid,  Major 
Hakill,  fell  dead  on  their  arrival  at  the  fort.  He 
found  there,  that  General  Perkins  had  prepared  to 
send  a  battalion  to  the  Rapids,  in  conformity  with 
a  request  from  General  Winchester.  That  battalion 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  217 

was  dispatched  the  next  morning,  the  1 8th,  with  a 
piece  of  artillery  ;  but  the  roads  were  so  bad,  that 
it  was  unable,  by  its  utmost  exertions,  to  reach  the 
River  Raisin,  a  distance  of  seventy-five  miles,  be 
fore  the  fatal  disaster. 

"  General  Harrison  then  determined  to  proceed 
to  the  Rapids  himself,  to  learn  personally  from 
General  Winchester  his  situation  and  views.  At 
four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  19th,  while  he 
still  remained  at  Lower  Sandusky,  he  received  the 
information,  that  Colonel  Lewis  had  been  sent  with 
a  detachment,  to  secure  the  provisions  on  the  River 
Raisin,  and  to  occupy,  with  the  intention  of  hold 
ing,  the  village  of  Frenchtown.  There  was  then 
but  one  regiment  and  a  battalion  at  Lower  Sandus 
ky,  and  the  regiment  was  immediately  put  in  mo 
tion,  with  orders  to  make  forced  marches  for  the 
Rapids ;  and  General  Harrison  himself  immedi 
ately  proceeded  to  the  same  place.  On  his  way  he 
met  an  express  with  intelligence  of  the  successful 
battle,  which  had  been  fought  on  the  preceding  day. 
The  anxiety  of  General  Harrison  to  push  forward, 
and  either  prevent  or  remedy  any  misfortune  which 
might  occur,  as  soon  as  he  was  apprized  of  the  ad 
vance  to  the  River  Raisin,  was  manifested  by  the 
great  personal  exertions  which  he  made  in  this 
instance.  He  started  in  a  sleigh  with  General 
Perkins,  to  overtake  the  battalion  under  Cotgrove, 
attended  by  a  single  servant.  As  the  sleigh  went 
19 


218  MEMOIR    OF 

very  slow,  from  the  roughness  of  the  road,  he  took 
the  horse  of  his  servant,  and  pushed  on  alone. 
Night  came  upon  him  in  the  midst  of  the  swamp, 
which  was  so  imperfectly  frozen  that  the  horse 
sunk  to  his  belly  at  every  step.  He  had  no  resource 
but  to  dismount  and  lead  his  horse,  jumping  him 
self  from  one  sod  to  another  which  was  solid 
enough  to  support  him.  When  almost  exhausted, 
he  met  one  of  Cotgrove's  men  coming  back  to  look 
for  his  bayonet,  which  he  said  he  had  left  at  a 
place  where  he  stopped,  and  for  which  he  would 
have  a  dollar  stopped  from  his  pay,  unless  he  reco 
vered  it.  The  general  told  him  he  would  not  only 
pardon  him  for  the  loss,  but  supply  him  with  an 
other,  if  he  would  assist  him  to  get  his  horse  through 
the  swamp.  By  his  aid,  the  general  was  enabled 
to  reach  the  camp  of  the  battalion. 

"  Very  early  on  the  morning  of  the  20th  he  ar 
rived  at  the  Rapids,  from  which  place  General 
Winchester  had  gone,  on  the  preceding  evening, 
with  all  his  disposable  force,  to  the  River  Raisin. 
Nothing  more  could  now  be  done,  but  wait  the 
arrival  of  the  reinforcements  from  Lower  San- 
dusky." 

"  Instead  of  censure  being  due  to  Harrison,  he 
merits  praise  for  his  prudent  exertions,  from  the 
moment  he  was  apprized  of  Winchester's  arrival 
at  the  Rapids." 

"  What    human    means,"  says  Colonel  Wood, 


WILLIAM    HENKY    HARRISON.  219 

"  within  the  control  of  Harrison,  could  prevent  the 
anticipated  disaster,  and  save  that  corps  which  was 
already  looked  upon  as  lost,  as  doomed  to  inevi 
table  destruction?  Certainly  none."  He  adds, 
"  What  could  a  Turenne  or  an  Eugene  have  done, 
under  such  a  pressure  of  embarrassing  circum 
stances,  more  than  Harrison  did." 

When  the  intelligence  of  ihe  disaster  at  the  River 
Raisin  reached  the  head  quarters  of  the  army,  at 
the  Rapids,  General  Harrison  called  a  council  of 
war,  who,  acting  on  the  best  information  then 
attainable,  came  to  the  opinion,  that  the  position  at 
the  Rapids  would  probably  be  attacked.  Such  an 
event  was  to  be  avoided,  as  the  position  was  untena 
ble,  and  the  force  of  the  enemy  supposed  to  be 
much  greater  than  our  own.  On  the  next  morn 
ing,  therefore,  the  army  abandoned  the  Rapids,  and 
retired  to  the  Portage,  18  miles  distant,  where  the 
general  established,  and  strongly  fortified  his  camp, 
to  await  an  expected  reinforcement  under  General 
Leftwich,  on  the  arrival  of  which,  it  was  his  inten 
tion  to  return  to  the  Rapids.  A  series  of  rainy 
weather,  which  rendered  the  roads  impassable,  de 
layed  the  arrival  of  General  Leftwich  until  the  30th 
of  January  ;  and  on  the  following  day,  the  army, 
now  amounting  to  1700  men,  marched  to  the  foot 
of  the  Rapids,  and  a  good  position  was  selected,  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river  from  that  formerly 
occupied. 


220  MEMOIR    OF 

Expecting  to  be  able  still  to  lead  the  contemplated 
expedition  against  Maiden  during  the  season,  the 
genera]  continued  to  exert  himself  unremittingly 
in  making  preparations.  All  the  troops  in  the  rear 
were  ordered  to  join  him  immediately ;  except  a 
few  companies  which  were  left  on  the  Au  Glaise 
and  St.  Mary's.  The  Ohio  and  Kentucky  troops 
soon  after  arrived,  which  rendered  the  advance 
2000  strong;  but  it  was  now  ascertained,  that  the 
different  corps  were  so  far  reduced  from  their  origi 
nal  and  nominal  strength,  that  the  whole  effective 
force  would  not  eventually  exceed  4000  men.  The 
weather  remained  unfavourable,  and  the  arrival  of 
the  troops  in  the  rear  continued  to  be  delayed  until 
General  Harrison  was  at  length  constrained,  with 
much  reluctance  and  mortification,  to  abandon  all 
thoughts  of  advancing  this  season  against  Maiden. 

The  general  now  turned  his  attention  to  the 
security  of  his  troops  for  the  present  winter,  and 
the  making  arrangements  for  an  active  campaign 
in  the  ensuing  year.  His  camp  was  strongly  for 
tified,  under  the  direction  of  Colonel  (then  Captain) 
Wood,  an  engineer  of  great  talent,  who  afterwards 
distinguished  himself  highly,  and  fell  with  honour. 
An  area  of  2500  yards  in  circumference  was  in 
closed  with  strong  pickets,  composed  of  timbers 
fifteen  feet  in  length,  and  ten  or  twelve  inches  in 
diameter,  set  three  feet  deep  in  the  ground.  "  To 
complete  this  picketing,"  says  Wood,  in  his  account, 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  ,  221 

"  to  put  up  eight  block-houses  of  double  timber,  to 
elevate  four  large  batteries,  to  build  all  the  store 
houses  and  magazines  required  to  contain  the  sup 
plies  of  the  army,  together  with  the  ordinary  fa 
tigues  of  the  camp,  was  an  undertaking  of  no  small 
magnitude.  Besides,  an  immense  deal  of  labour 
was  likewise  required  in  excavating  ditches,  making 
abbatis,  and  clearing  away  the  wood  about  the 
camp ;  and  all  this  was  to  be  done  too  at  a  time 
when  the  weather  was  inclement,  and  the  ground 
so  hard  frozen  that  it  could  scarcely  be  opened 
with  a  mattock  or  pick-axe."  The  position  thus 
fortified  was  called  Camp  Meigs,  in  honour  of  the 
patriotic  governor  of  Ohio. 


222  MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Opening  of  the  second  campaign — Siege  of  Fort 
Meigs  —  Brilliant  sortie — Defeat  of  Colonel 
Dudley. 

THE  small  garrison  of  Fort  Meigs  spent  a  dreary 
and  toilsome  winter  at  that  post.  A  variety  of 
minor  incidents  occurred  to  test  their  patience  and 
courage ;  but  the  garrison  maintained  itself  under 
a  variety  of  privations,  of  threatened  assaults,  and 
of  adverse  circumstances. 

General  Harrison  returned  to  Cincinnati,  to  visit 
his  family,  and  to  make  arrangements  for  a  vigor 
ous  opening  of  the  ensuing  campaign,  by  procuring 
reinforcements  of  men,  and  supplies  of  money,  pro 
visions,  and  military  stores.  Ever  indefatigable  in 
his  exertions,  he  continued  to  maintain  a  volumi 
nous  correspondence  with  the  cabinet  at  Washing 
ton,  and  the  governors  of  the  states  from  which 
militia  were  expected  to  be  drawn,  and  to  sustain, 
by  animated  appeals  to  their  patriotism,  the  confi 
dence  of  the  people.  Again  we  look  back,  as  at  a 
former  period,  with  emotions  of  surprise  at  the 
gloomy  aspect  of  affairs  on  all  our  frontiers.  Thus 
far  the  war  had  been  prosecuted  with  little  energy, 
and  less  success.  A  few  individuals  had  been 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  223 

prodigal  of  their  lives,  their  talents,  and  their 
labours,  in  high  commands ;  and  many  men  had 
gone  bravely  to  the  field.  Some  brilliant  exploits 
had  been  achieved ;  but  these  partial  successes  had 
been  more  than  balanced  by  a  series  of  disasters. 
The  want  of  system  and  organization,  of  supplies, 
and  of  all  the  sinews  of  war,  except  brave  men  and 
gallant  leaders,  had  created  distraction  in  the  coun 
cils  of  the  nation,  and  despondency  in  the  public 
mind.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  personal  influence, 
energy,  and  talent,  of  such  commanders  as  Harri 
son,  Jackson,  Brown,  Scott,  and  Perry,  and  such 
men  as  Meigs,  Shelby,  and  other  patriotic  gover 
nors,  it  is  difficult  to  imagine  how  the  honour  of 
the  country  could  have  been  rescued  from  indelible 
disgrace;  nor  will  the  nation  fully  appreciate  the 
weight  of  gratitude  due  to  those  individuals,  and  to 
Monroe,  Clay,  Cheves,  Calhoun,  and  other  patriots, 
who  intrepidly  sustained  the  administration  at  this 
^crisis,  until  the  history  of  those  times  shall  be  fully 
and  calmly  written,  and  the  services  of  those  great 
men  carefully  examined  and  explained. 

Intelligence  having  been  received  of  an  intention 
on  the  part  of  the  enemy  to  invest  Camp  Meigs, 
General  Harrison  hastened  back  to  the  frontier. 
His  plan  was  formed,  to  relieve  Camp  Meigs, 
should  he  find  it  besieged,  by  storming  the  batteries 
of  the  enemy,  'in  the  same  manner  which  he  after 
wards  adopted,  and  caused  to  be  practised  by  the 


224  MEMOIR    OF 

troops  under  Dudley.  With  this  view,  he  wrote 
for  reinforcements  to  the  governor  of  Kentucky 
and  endeavoured  to  raise  hastily  a  strong  force. 
But  on  reaching  Camp  Meigs,  on  the  12th  of  April, 
he  found  that  position  not  yet  invested.  The  enemy, 
however,  were  daily  expected;  and  the  most  vigor 
ous  exertions  were  made  to  prepare  for  a  siege. 
On  the  19th,  intelligence  was  brought  that  the 
British  were  making  active  preparations,  were  as 
sembling  an  immense  Indian  force,  and  that  Te- 
cumthe  and  the  prophet  had  joined  them  with  600 
warriors. 

General  Green  Clay,  with  3000  men  from  Ken 
tucky,  under  Colonels  Boswell,  Dudley,  Caldwell, 
and  Cox,  was  daily  expected ;  but  the  deepness  of 
the  roads,  and  the  difficulty  of  crossing  streams 
swelled  by  the  spring  floods,  delayed  his  march. 
The  companies,  however,  which  had  been  dis 
patched  in  advance  by  Harrison,  and  were  less  en 
cumbered  with  baggage,  reached  the  Rapids  before 
the  arrival  of  the  enemy.  The  troops  under  Clay 
reached  Defiance  on  the  3d  of  May,  where  they 
were  met  by  the  news  of  the  investment  of  Camp 
Meigs,  by  the  allied  British  and  Indian  forces. 

On  the  28th  of  April,  a  reconnoitring  party  from 
Camp  Meigs  discovered  the  approach  of  the  enemy 
in  full  force.  General  Harrison  instantly  dispatched 
letters  to  General  Clay,  and  to  the  governors  of 
Ohio  and  Kentucky.  The  perilous  duty  of  bearing 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  225 

these  dispatches,  was  undertaken  and  handsomely 
performed  by  Captain  Oliver,*  a  brave  and  intelli 
gent  officer,  who,  accompanied  by  a  single  white 
man  and  an  Indian,  successfully  surmounted  the 
dangers  that  beset  his  path  through  the  wilderness. 

The  troops  were  paraded  ;  General  Harrison  ad 
dressed  them  with  his  usual  eloquence,  and  loud 
bursts  of  applause  showed  that  he  had  kindled  up 
their  military  pride  and  love  of  country.  Presently 
the  enemy  appeared,  ascending  the  river  in  boats, 
and  approaching  the  site  of  the  old  Fort  Miami,  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river  from  Camp  Meigs. 
Here  they  landed  the  artillery,  and  began  to  con 
struct  batteries,  while  the  Indians  debarked  on  the 
south-eastern  shore,  and  surrounded  our  camp. 

The  position  occupied  by  the  American  army 
was  within  a  short  distance  of  the  field  on  which 
Wayne  had  conquered  the  Indians  in  his  great  bat 
tle.  Alluding  to  this  circumstance,  General  Har 
rison  used  the  following  language,  in  a  general 
order  issued  on  the  next  morning  after  the  arrival 
of  the  enemy  : — 

"  Can  the  citizens  of  a  free  country,  who  have 
taken  up  arms  to  defend  its  rights,  think  of  submit 
ting  to  an  army  composed  of  mercenary  soldiers, 
reluctant  Canadians  goaded  to  the  field  by  the 
bayonet,  and  of  wretched,  naked  savages  1  Can 
the  breast  of  an  American  soldier,  when  he  casts 


*  Major  William  Oliver,  of  Cincinnati. 


226  MEMOIR    OF 

his  eyes  to  the  opposite  shore,  the  scene  of  his 
country's  triumphs  over  the  same  foe,  be  influenced 
by  any  other  feelings  than  the  hope  of  glory?  Is 
not  this  army  composed  of  the  same  materials  with 
that  which  fought  and  conquered  under  the  immor 
tal  Wayne?  Yes,  fellow-soldiers,  your  general 
sees  your  countenances  beam  with  the  same  fire 
that  he  witnessed  on  that  occasion ;  and  although  it 
would  be  the  height  of  presumption  to  compare 
himself  to  that  hero,  he  boasts  of  being  that  hero's 
pupil.  To  your  posts  then,  fellow-citizens,  and 
remember  that  the  eyes  of  your  country  are  upon 
you." 

The  British  camp  was  established  about  two  miles 
down  the  river;  and  in  the  night  after  their  landing, 
they  commenced  three  batteries  opposite  the  fort, 
on  a  high  bank  three  hundred  yards  from  the  river; 
the  intervening  ground  was  open,  and  partly  covered 
with  water.  They  proceeded  with  these  so  far  in 
the  night,  as  to  be  able  to  work  at  them  in  daylight. 
Works  to  counteract  those  of  the  enemy  were  com 
menced  with  spirit  on  our  side.  The  whole  army, 
except  the 'requisite  guards,  was  placed  on  fatigue, 
and  the  works  pushed  forward  under  the  active 
management  of  Wood  and  Gratiot,  the  engineers. 

On  the  30th  of  April  the  breastworks  of  the 
enemy  were  completed,  and  the  guns  ready  to  be 
mounted.  Troops  and  Indians  were  crossed  to  the 
south-eastern  side;  and  as  this  demonstration  led 


WILLIAM    HEKRY    HARRISON.  227 

the  general  to  suspect,  that  while  his  attention 
should  be  directed  to  the  opening  of  the  batteries, 
his  works  were  to  be  stormed  from  the  opposite 
direction,  the  men  were  ordered  to  rest  on  their 
arms,  prepared  to  take  post  at  a  moment's  warning. 
The  morning  of  the  1st  of  May  disclosed  the 
British  batteries  completed,  and  the  artillerists  at 
their  posts,  loading  and  training  the  guns,  as  if 
ready  to  open  their  fire  upon  our  camp.  An  im 
posing  movement  now  took  place.  While  the 
enemy  were  busily  engaged  in  erecting  batteries,  a 
grand  traverse  had  been  constructed,  twelve  feet 
high,  upon  a  base  of  twenty  feet,  three  hundred 
yards  long,  running  entirely  across  our  camp. 
Orders  were  now  given  for  all  the  tents  in  front 
of  this  work  to  be  removed  to  its  rear.  At  a  word 
they  were  struck,  and  in  a  few  minutes  disap 
peared  ;  and  the  prospect  of  cannonading  the  unco 
vered  tents,  which  a  few  minutes  before  had  excited 
the  skill  of  the  British  engineer,  vanished.  In  their 
place,  nothing  was  to  be  seen  but  a  long  breast 
work  of  earth,  behind  which  the  whole  army  was 
securely  encamped.  Not  a  tent,  nor  an  individual, 
was  visible  from  the  British  lines.  The  canvas 
shelters  which  had  concealed  the  construction  of 
the  traverse,  were  now  in  turn  concealed  by  it. 
The  enemy's  batteries  however  were  opened,  and 
for  five  days  a  continued  shower  of  balls  was 
poured  against  our  defences,  with  little  effect.  A 


228  MEMOIR    OF 

few  were  killed  and  wounded.  Among  the  latter 
was  Major  Amos  Stoddart,  of  the  artillery,  a  meri 
torious  officer,  who  had  served  in  the  revolution, 
and  is  well  known  as  the  author  of  a  valuable 
work  entitled  "  Sketches  of  Louisiana."  He  was 
slightly  hurt,  and  died  a  few  days  after,  of  lockjaw. 

On  our  side  a  vigorous  fire  was  kept  up  from  the 
batteries,  while  the  troops  were  constantly  employed 
in  strengthening  the  defences. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  General  Clay,  with  his 
command,  was  still  on  the  way.  This  circumstance 
was  adroitly  turned  to  advantage  by  General  Har 
rison,  and  a  plan  devised,  which  evinced  the  most 
admirable  generalship,  in  adapting  his  means  to  his 
situation. 

Captain  Oliver  met  General  Clay  at  Fort  Win 
chester,  at  which  place  the  cannonading  at  the  siege 
was  distinctly  heard.  On  the  4th  of  May  he  was 
ready  to  advance  ;  when  Major  David  Trimble,  of 
Kentucky,  volunteered  to  accompany  Captain  Oli 
ver  on  his  return  to  Fort  Meigs,  in  a  boat  with 
fifteen  men,  to  apprize  General  Harrison  of  the  ap 
proach  of  the  reinforcement.  This  was  a  hazard 
ous  attempt;  Captain  Combs  had  lately  endeavoured, 
by  order  of  Colonel  Dudley,  to  penetrate  the  besieg 
ing  lines,  but  was  attacked  by  Indians  when  near 
the  fort,  and  driven  back,  after  a  brave  contest,  in 
which  he  lost  nearly  all  his  men.  Oliver  was 
more  successful ;  and  at  midnight  General  Harri- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  229 

son  was  informed,  that  General  Clay  would  reach 
his  camp  at  the  dawn  of  the  ensuing  morning. 
Harrison  immediately  determined  to  make  a  sortie 
upon  the  enemy  ;  and  dispatched  Captain  Hamilton 
to  Clay,  with  the  necessary  orders,  which  were  de 
livered,  five  miles  from  Camp  Meigs,  at  daylight. 
General  Clay  was  directed  to  land  about  800  men 
at  a  point  to  be  shown  by  Captain  Hamilton,  a  mile 
and  a  half  above  Camp  Meigs.  Hamilton  was  to 
conduct  the  detachment  to  the  British  batteries  on 
the  left  bank  of  the  river.  These  were  to  be  taken, 
the  cannon  spiked,  and  the  carriages  cut  down ; 
the  troops  were  then  to  return  to  the  boats,  and 
cross  to  the  fort.  The  remainder  of  the  troops 
were  to  land  on  the  other  bank,  and  cut  their  way 
through  the  Indians  into  the  fort,  conducted  by  a 
subaltern  sent  for  that  purpose. 

General  Harrison  intended,  while  this  operation 
was  going  forward,  to  send  out  a  party  to  destroy 
the  batteries  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  which 
had  been  erected  subsequently  to  the  establishment 
of  those  on  the  other  side. 

Colonel  Dudley  proceeded  to  lead  the  detach 
ment  against  the  enemy's  batteries,  while  General 
Clay  followed  with  the  remainder  of  his*  men.  In 
attempting  to  land,  the  boats  of  Clay  became  sepa 
rated  by  the  swiftness  of  the  current,  and  were 
landed  at  different  points.  Captain  Peter  Dudley, 
with  fifty  men,  marched  into  carnp  without  loss, 
20 


230  MEMOIR    OF 

under  a  heavy  fire  of  the  enemy.  Colonel  Boswell, 
with  the  rear  boats,  deceived  by  a  movement  of 
those  in  advance,  was  about  to  land  on  the  wrong 
shore,  when  he  was  instructed  to  cross  over,  and 
fight  his  way  into  camp.  The  Indians  annoyed 
his  landing,  but  he  formed,  and  returned  their  fire. 
General  Harrison  perceived  his  situation,  and  sent 
out  a  detachment  under  Major  Alexander,  in  which 
the  Pittsburgh  Blues  and  the  Petersburgh  volunteers 
were  included — a  battalion  under  Major  Johnson, — 
and  the  companies  of  Nearing  and  Dudley,  to  relieve 
hirrij  and  enable  him  to  beat  the  enemy.  The  Ken- 
tuckians  had  fought  their  way  to  the  gates  of  the 
fort,  when  these  troops  joined  them.  They  now 
formed,  Boswell  on  the  right,  Alexander  on  the 
left,  and  Johnson  in  the  centre,  and  charged  the 
Indians,  who,  though  much  superior  in  numbers, 
were  driven  for  half  a  mile  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet.  Such  was  the  spirit  of  ihese  brave  troops, 
that  their  officers  with  difficulty  restrained  their 
ardour.  General  Harrison,  who  stood  on  a  battery 
watching  their  operations,  discovered  a  body  of 
British  and  Indians  filing  along  the  edge  of  the 
woods,  to  gain  the  left  flank  and  rear  of  Boswell. 
He  immediately  sent  his  volunteer  aid,  J.  T.  John 
son,  Esq.,  to  recall  the  detachment ;  but  the  horse 
of  this  gentleman  was  shot  under  him  before  he 
could  deliver  the  order,  which  was  then  carried  by 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  231 

Major  Graham.     The  troops  reluctantly  obeyed, 
and  reached  the  camp  in  good  order. 

"  General  Harrison,"  says  M'Affee,  "  now  or 
dered  a  sortie  from  the  fort,  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  John  Miller  of  the  regulars,  against  the 
batteries  which  had  been  erected  on  that  side.  This 
detachment  was  composed  of  the  companies  and 
parts  of  companies,  commanded  by  Captains  Lang- 
ham,  Croghah,  Bradford,  Nearing,  Elliot,  and  Lieu 
tenants  Gwynne  and  Campbell  of  the  regulars ;  the 
volunteers  of  Alexander's  battalion,  and  Captain 
Sebree's  company  of  Kentucky  militia.  The  whole 
amounted  only  to  350  men.  Colonel  Miller,  ac 
companied  by  Major  Todd,  led  on  his  command 
with  the  most  determined  bravery,  charged  upon 
the  British,  and  drove  them  from  their  batteries — 
spiked  their  cannon,  and  took  forty-one  prisoners, 
including  an  officer,  having  completely  beaten  and 
driven  back  the  whole  force  of  the  enemy.  That 
force  consisted  of  200  British  regulars,  150  Cana 
dians,  and  500  Indians,  being  considerably  more 
than  double  the  force  of  the  brave  detachment  that 
attacked  them ;  but  our  troops  charged  with  such 
irresistible  impetuosity  that  nothing  could  withstand 
them." 

Sebree's  company  was  particularly  distinguished ; 
and  at  one  time  plunged  with  such  fearless  ardour 
into  the  enemy's  ranks,  as  to  be  entirely  surround 
ed.  Bravely  contending  against  four  times  their 


232  MEMOIR    OF 

numbers,  they  maintained  their  ground  for  some 
time,  but  must  ultimately  have  been  cut  to  pieces, 
had  not  Lieutenant*  Gwynne,  of  the  19th,  gallantly 
charged  through  the  enemy  to  their  relief.  Miller 
accomplished  the  whole  object  of  the  sortie,  and  re 
tired  triumphantly  into  the  fort. 

In  no  instance  during  the  war  was  there  harder 
fighting  than  in  this  brilliant  sortie.  It  lasted  but 
forty-five  minutes,  during  which  180  men  were 
killed  and  wounded  on  our  side. 

In  the  mean  while,  Dudley  had  effected  a  land 
ing  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and  marched 
rapidly  towards  the  enemy's  batteries.  The  dis 
tance  was  two  miles  from  the  point  of  debarkation ; 
but  so  successful  was  the  movement,  that  the  ene 
my  was  completely  surprised,  the  batteries  were 
charged  "  at  full  speed,"  and  carried  without  the  loss 
of  a  man ;  the  British  flag  was  pulled  down,  and 
the  shouts  of  the  garrison  announced  their  joy  at 
the  victory. 

Unhappily  these  gallant  citizens  were  not  suffi 
ciently  practised  in  the  new  profession  which  their 
patriotism  had  induced  them  to  assume,  to  be  able 
to  appreciate  the  full  value  of  the  service  they  had 
so  nobly  performed,  or  the  danger  of  the  position 
in  which  they  stood.  Having  effected  their  purpose, 
their  orders  and  their  duty  required  them  to  retreat, 


Now  Major  Gwynne,  of  Cincinnatii 


WILLIAM   HENRY    HARRISON.  233 

but  they  loitered  in  the  batteries  with  the  most  per 
fect  indifference  to  any  approaching  peril.  Gene 
ral  Harrison  made  them  signals  to  retire — but  they 
remained,, -examining  the  batteries  they  had  taken, 
and  curiously  surveying  the  novel  scene  before 
them.  Flushed  with  victory,  they  were  reluctant 
to  turn  their  backs  on  the  foe.  Lieutenant  Camp 
bell  was  sent  by  the  general  to  recall  them ;  but 
before  he  could  perform  the  service,  the  fate  of 
these  brave  men  was  decided.  The  outlying  In 
dians  gathered  upon  their  flank,  and  attacked  Cap 
tain  Combs'  company ;  Dudley  hastened  to  his 
relief  with  part  of  his  force,  charged  the  foe,  and 
drove  them — but  even  now  these  impetuous  Ken- 
tuckians  were  not  satisfied,  and  instead  of  retreat 
ing,  pursued  the  enemy  for  two  miles.  The  left 
column,  under  Major  Shelby,  which  remained  in 
possession  of  the  batteries,  was  charged  by  the 
enemy,  who  had  rallied,  some  made  prisoners,  and 
others  driven  to  the  boats.  Major  Shelby  rallied 
the  remainder,  drove  back  the  assailants,  and  has 
tened  to  the  assistance  of  Dudley.  A  retreat  was 
now  attempted ;  but  in  such  disorder,  that  the  great 
er  part  of  the  men  were  captured  by  the  Indians, 
or  surrendered  to  the  British.  Thus  ended  in  sig 
nal  disaster,  an  affair  planned  with  wisdom,  com 
menced  with  the  brightest  hopes,  conducted  for  a 
time  with  skill  and  gallantry,  and  blasted  in  its 
event  by  the  imprudence  of  a  generous  band,  who 
20* 


234  MEMOIR    OF 

suffered  their  own  impulse  to  lead  them,  instead  of 
obeying  the  orders  of  their  general.  Had  the  in 
structions  given  to  Dudley  been  pursued,  or  an  or 
dinary  degree  of  military  judgment  exercised,  the 
events  of  that  day  would  have  been  among  the 
brightest  in  the  annals  of  our  country,  and  Ken 
tucky  saved  from  the  mournful  office  of  lamenting 
the  loss  of  some  of  her  noblest  sons. 

The  British  and  Indians  now  perpetrated  their 
usual  atrocities.  The  gallant  Dudley  fell  by  the 
tomahawk,  with  many  of  his  brave  companions. 
The  prisoners  were  taken  to  head  quarters,  put  into 
Fort  Miami,  and  the  Indians  permitted  to  station 
themselves  on  the  ramparts,  and  fire  into  the  dis 
armed  crowd.  "  Those,"  says  Colonel  Wood, 
"  who  preferred  to  inflict  a  still  more  cruel  and 
savage  death,  selected  their  victims,  and  led  them 
to  the  gateway,  and  there,  under  the  eye  of  Gene 
ral  Proctor,  and  in  the  presence  of  the  whole  Bri 
tish  army,  tomahawked  and  scalped  them.''''  This 
horrid  work  of  destruction  continued  until  the  arri 
val  of  Tecumthe  from  the  batteries.  No  sooner  did 
the  savage  warrior  behold  the  massacre,  than  he 
exclaimed,  "  For  shame !  it  is  a  disgrace  to  kill  a 
defenceless  prisoner;"  and  stopped  the  carnage. 
One  of  our  historians  remarks,  "  In  this  single  act, 
Tecumthe  displayed  more  humanity,  magnanimity, 
and  civilization,  than  Proctor,  with  all  his  British 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  235 

associates  in  command,  displayed  through  the  whole 
war  on  the  north-western  frontiers." 

We  forbear  from  making  any  comment  on  the 
cruel  and  insulting  treatment  of  our  prisoners  by 
Proctor  and  his  subordinates.  It  stands  recorded  in 
letters  of  blood,  upon  the  page  of  history. 

General  Proctor  made  a  proposition  to  exchange 
such  of  the  Kentucky  militia  as  were  his  captives, 
for  the  friendly  Indians  residing  within  our  limits, 
who  were  not  prisoners,  but  neutrals,  living  in  our 
country.  Whether  this  was  intended  as  an  insult, 
is  not  known.  General  Harrison  contented  him 
self  with  replying  courteously,  that  he  would  refer 
the  subject  to  the  decision  of  the  President. 

After  the  close  of  the  action  of  the  5th,  Proctor 
sent  a  formal  summons  to  Harrison  to  surrender, 
to  which  our  gallant  commander  simply  responded, 
that  he  considered  such  a  message  an  affront,  which 
he  desired  might  not  be  repeated.  The  boasting 
Briton,  finding  that  Harrison  would  not  consent  to 
be  beaten,  judged  it  expedient  to  be  the  vanquished 
party  himself;  and  on  the  8th  he  raised  the  siege 
and  decamped. 

General  Harrison,  leaving  General  Clay  in  com 
mand,  proceeded  to  Lower  Sandusky  and  Cleave- 
land,  to  make  arrangements  for  the  better  security 
of  those  places.  He  then  passed  into  the  interior. 

Governor  Meigs,  of  Ohio,  had  used  the  most 
active  exertions  to  carry  assistance  to  the  besieged 


236  MEMOIR    OF 

American  army ;  and  was  on  the  way,  leading  a 
stout  column  of  armed  citizens,  in  person,  towards 
the  scene  of  operations,  when  the  news  of  the  re 
treat  of  the  discomfited  army  was  received,  and 
the  troops  were  disbanded. 

The  gallant  Perry  was,  in  the  mean  while, 
quietly  and  vigorously  building  up  that  fleet,  in  the 
command  of  which  he  afterwards  achieved  a  vic 
tory  as  brilliant,  as  complete,  as  advantageous,  as 
it  was  unprecedented  in  the  annals  of  American 
naval  warfare. 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  237 

CHAPTER  XVI. 
The  mounted  regiment  under  Col.  R.  M.  Johnson. 

WHILE  these  operations  were  going  forward, 
Colonel  Richard  M.  Johnson,  a  member  of  Con 
gress  from  Kentucky,  had  devised  the  organization 
of  two  regiments  of  mounted  militia,  to  be  employed 
in  traversing  the  whole  Indian  country,  from  Fort 
Wayne,  by  Lake  Michigan,  and  the  Illinois  river, 
round  to  Louisville.  The  Secretary  of  War  sub 
mitted  the  plan  to  General  Harrison,  who  made  the 
following  judicious  reply :  "  I  am  sorry  not  to  be 
able  to  agree  with  my  friend,  Colonel  Johnson, 
upon  the  propriety  of  the  contemplated  mounted 
expedition.  An  expedition  of  this  kind,  directed 
against  a  particular  town,  will  probably  succeed. 
The  Indian  towns  cannot  be  surprised  in  succes 
sion,  as  they  give  the  alarm  from  one  to  another 
with  more  rapidity  than  our  troops  can  move.  In 
the  months  of  February,  March,  and  April,  the 
towns  are  all  abandoned.  The  men  are  hunting, 
and  the  women  and  children,  particularly  to  the 
north  of  the  Wabash,  are  scattered  about,  making 
sugar.  The  corn  is,  at  that  season,  universally  hid 
in  small  parcels  in  the  earth,  and  could  not  be 


238  MEMOIR    OF 

found.  There  are  no  considerable  villages  in  that 
direction.  Those  that  are  there,  are  composed  of 
bark  huts,  which  the  Indians  do  not  care  for,  and 
which,  during  the  winter,  are  entirely  empty.  The 
detachment  might  pass  through  the  whole  extent 
of  country  to  be  scoured,  without  seeing  an  Indian, 
except  at  the  first  town  they  struck ;  and  it  is  more 
than  probable  that  they  would  find  it  empty.  But 
the  expedition  is  impracticable  to  the  extent  pro 
posed.  The  horses,  if  not  the  men,  would  perish. 
The  horses  that  are  now  to  be  found,  are  not  like 
those  of  the  early  settlers,  and  such  as  the  Indians 
and  traders  now  have.  They  have  been  accus 
tomed  to  corn,  and  must  have  it.  Colonel  Camp 
bell  went  but  seventy  or  eighty  miles  from  the 
frontiers,  and  the  greater  part  of  his  horses  could 
scarcely  be  brought  in.  Such  an  expedition  in  the 
summer  and  fall  would  be  highly  advantageous, 
because  the  Indians  are  then  at  their  towns,  and 
their  corn  can  be  destroyed.  An  attack  upon  a 
particular  town,  in  the  winter,  when  the  inhabitants 
are  at  it,  as  we  know  they  are  at  Mississineway, 
and  which  is  so  near  as  to  enable  the  detachment 
to  reach  it  without  killing  their  horses,  is  not  only 
practicable,  but  if  the  snow  is  on  the  ground,  is  per 
haps  the  most  favourable." 

This  statement  is  equally  creditable  to  the  patriot 
ism  of  Johnson,  and  the  sagacity  of  Harrison ;  and 
it  was  happy  for  the  country,  that  while  the  govern- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISOX.  239 

merit  accepted  sthe  services  of  the  former,  the  advice 
of  the  latter  was  approved.  The  plan  was  so  modi 
fied,  that  Colonel  Johnson  was  authorized,  on  the 
26th  of  February,  1813,  to  raise  a  mounted  regi 
ment  to  serve  under  the  command  of  Harrison. 
James  Johnson,  the  brother  of  Richard,  was  ap 
pointed  lieutenant  colonel ;  Duval  Payne,  and  Da 
vid  Thompson,  majors ;  R.  B.  M'Affee,  (the  writer 
of  the  history  of  the  war,)  Richard  Matson,  Jacob 
Elliston,  Benjamin  Wax-field,  John  Payne,  Elijah 
Craig,  Jacob  Stucker,  James  Davidson,  S.  R.  Combs, 
W.  M.  Price,  and  James  Coleman,  captains ;  Jere 
miah  Kirtby,  adjutant ;  B.  S.  Chambers,  quarter 
master;  S.  Theobalds,  judge  advocate;  L.  Dick 
inson,  serjeant  major;  James  Sugget,  chaplain; 
Doctors  Ewing,  Coburn,  and  Richardson,  surgeons. 

The  regiment  proceeded  to  St.  Mary's,  and 
thence  to  Fort  Wayne,  employing  every  leisure 
moment  in-  drilling;  and  several  demonstrations 
were  made  against  the  Indian  villages  in  different 
directions. 

In  the  mean  while,  the  tomahawk  and  firebrand 
were  busily  employed  along  the  frontiers  of  Illinois 
and  Missouri.  In  April  the  Indians  invested  Fort 
Madison,  on  the  upper  Mississippi ;  and  soon  after 
Fort  Mason,  on  the  same  river,  about  eighty  miles 
above  St.  Louis,  but  were  bravely  repulsed  in  both 
instances. 

The  Osages   solicited  employment  against   the 


240  MEMOIR    OF 

British ;  but  the  government,  unwilling  to  engage 
the  savages  in  war,  and  determined  not  to  do  so, 
except  where  the  vicinity  of  the  tribe  to  the  scene 
of  action  made  it  necessary  for  them  to  take  up  the 
hatchet  in  their  own  defence, — declined  their  ser 
vices. 

The  British,  by  great  exertions,  collected  nearly 
all  the  Indian  warriors  of  the  north  and  north-west, 
beyond  the  lakes,  and  many  from  our  territories, 
into  the  neighbourhood  of  Maiden,  where  they  were 
regularly  supplied  with  rations.  The  number  of 
warriors  was  about  2500. 

Johnson's  regiment  was  now  at  Fort  Winchester, 
when  a  dispatch  from  General  Clay  announced  that 
Fort  Meigs  was  threatened  with  a  second  siege,  and 
required  the  aid  of  the  mounted  men.  Johnson 
immediately  paraded  his  men,  addressed  them  in 
animated  terms,  and  made  preparations  for  the 
march.  The  regiment  set  out  in  high  spirits, 
resolved  to  fight  their  way,  if  necessary,  into  Fort 
Meigs ;  which  post,  however,  they  reached  without 
opposition. 

General  Harrison  received  at  Franklinton  the 
intelligence  of  the  threatened  attack  of  Fort  Meigs, 
and  immediately  hastened  to  the  scene  of  action. 

Before  leaving  Franklinton,  he  held  a  council 
with  the  chiefs  of  some  of  the  friendly  tribes,  when 
he  informed  them  that  a  crisis  had  arrived,  in 
which  it  became  necessary  for  the  neutral  tribes 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  241 

residing  near  the  frontier  to  decide  against  or  for 
us.  The  latter  alternative  was  unanimously  adopt 
ed.  The  general  then  told  them,  that  they  would 
be  informed  when  their  services  would  be  wanted — 
"  but,"  said  he,  "  you  must  conform  to  our  mode 
of  warfare.  You  are  not  to  kill  defenceless  prison 
ers,  old  men,  women,  or  children."  He  remarked, 
that  by  their  conduct  he  would  be  able  to  determine 
whether  the  British  could  restrain  the  Indians  em 
ployed  by  them ;  for  if  the  Indians  fighting  with 
him  should  abstain  from  such  atrocities,  the  British 
could  have  equal  influence  with  their  own  allies. 
He  humorously  told  them  that  General  Proctor  had 
promised  to  deliver  him  into  the  hands  of  Tecum- 
the,  to  be  treated  as  that  warrior  might  determine. 
"  Now  if  I  can  succeed  in  taking  Proctor,"  said  he, 
"  you  shall  have  him  for  your  prisoner,  provided 
you  will  agree  to  treat  him  as  a  squaw,  and  do  him 
no  other  harm  than  to  dress  him  in  petticoats ;  for 
he  must  be  a  coward  who  would  kill  a  defenceless 
prisoner." 

On  the  28th  of  June,  General  Harrison  arrived 
by  forced  marches  at  Fort  Meigs,  with  300  men 
of  the  24th  regiment  of  ,U.  S.  infantry,  under 
Colonel  Anderson. 

We  omit  here  a  variety  of  services  in  which  de 
tachments  were  employed,  and  which  are  detailed 
in  the  histories  of  the  war. 

By  an  order  dated  June  9th,  1813,  the  War 
21 


242  MEMOIR    OF 

Department,  at  the  urgent  request  of  Governor 
Edwards,  of  Illinois,  and  General  Howard,  com 
manding  in  Missouri,  instructed  General  Harrison 
to  order  Colonel  Johnson's  mounted  volunteers  to 
proceed  to  Kaskaskia,  to  report  to  General  Howard. 
The  mounted  men  were  indignant  at  this  order, 
which  would  take  them  from  a  field  in  which  the 
harvest  of  glory  was  ripening,  and  banish  them 
into  a  wilderness  four  hundred  miles  distant,  which 
they  could  scarcely  reach  before  the  expiration  of 
their  term  of  service.  Colonel  Johnson  immediately 
addressed  the  following  letter  to  General  Harrison,, 
in  behalf  of  his  regiment : — 

CAMP  AT  LOWER  SANDUSKY,  July  4, 1813. 
"DEAR    SlR, 

"  I  arrived  at  this  place  last  evening  with  a  part 
of  the '  mounted  regiment,  after  two  days'  march 
from  Camp  Meigs,  leaving  two  companies  four 
miles  in  the  rear,  who  were  unable  to  reach  this 
place ;  besides  about  twenty  horses  left  on  the  way, 
which  I  am  in  hopes  will  be  able  to  get  back  to 
Camp  Meigs,  or  come  to  this  place  in  a  few  days, 
where  we  can  keep  them  together,  and  recruit  them. 
Having  been  in  the  most  active  service  for  upwards 
of  forty  days,  and  having  travelled  upwards  of 
seven  hundred  miles,  much  of  it  forced  march 
ing,  it  is  natural  to  conclude,  that  most  of  the  horses 
are  weak ;  and  we  feel  great  pleasure,  and  obliga- 


WILLIAM    HENRY   HARRISON.  243 

tions  to  you,  in  finding  your  arrangements  such  as 
to  enable  us  to  recruit  the  horses  of  the  regiment. 
To  be  ready  to  move  with  you  to  Detroit  and  Can- 
ada,  against  the  enemies  of  our  country,  is  the 
first  wish  of  our  hearts.  Two  great  objects  induced 
us  to  come — first,  to  be  at  the  regaining  of  our 
own  territory  and  Detroit,  and  at  the  taking  of 
Maiden — and  secondly,  to  serve  under  an  officer 
in  whom  we  have  confidence.  We  would  not  have 
engaged  in  the  service  without  such  a  prospect, 
when  we  recollected  what  disasters  have  attended 
us  for  the  want  of  good  generals.  We  did  not  want 
to  serve  under  cowards,  drunkards,  old  grannies, 
nor  traitors,  but  under  one  who  had  proved  him 
self  to  be  wise,  prudent,  and  brave.  The  officers 
of  the  mounted  regiment  had  some  idea  of  address 
ing  you  on  their  anxiety  to  be  a  part  of  your  army 
in  the  campaign  against  Canada,  and  of  giving  you 
a  statement  of  the  importance  of  having  an  oppor 
tunity  to  make  the  regiment  efficient  for  such  a 
campaign,  by  recruiting  their  horses.  As  to  the 
men,  they  are  active,  healthy,  and  fond  of  service. 
This  morning  I  have  sent  100  on  foot  to  scour  the 
surrounding  country;  and  wherever  we  are  we 
wish  continual  service.  Our  regiment  is  about  900 
strong  when  all  together.  I  have  left  100  at  Defi 
ance  to  regain  some  lost  horses,  and  to  guard  that 
frontier. 

"  You  have  not  witnessed  the  opposition  I  en- 


244  MEMOIR    OF 

countered  in  raising  the  regiment.  Every  personal 
enemy,  every  traitor  and  tory,  and  your  enemies, 
all  combined — but  in  vain.  Nothing  but  the  hurry 
which  attended  our  march  prevented  me  from  hav 
ing  1500  men.  Nothing  but  the  importance  of  the 
service  which  I  thought  we  could  render,  would 
have  justified  my  absence  from  the  present  catch 
penny  Congress.  My  enemies,  your  enemies,  the 
enemies  of  the  cause,  would  exult  if  the  mounted 
regiment  should,  from  any  cause,  be  unable  to  carry 
a  strong  arm  against  the  savages  and  British,  when 
you  strike  the  grand  blow. 

"  It  is  with  diffidence  I  write  you  any  thing 
touching  military  matters;  but  the  desires  of  my 
soul,  and  the  situation  of  the  regiment,  have  induced 
me  thus  freely  to  express  myself.  In  the  morning 
we  shall  leave  this  place  for  Huron,  ready  to  receive 
your  orders,  which  will  be  always  cheerfully  exe 
cuted  at  every  hazard. 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"  RH.  M.  JOHNSON." 

On  learning  the  situation  of  the  regiment,  Gene 
ral  Harrison  advised  the  War  Department,  and  the 
order  for  detaching  it  to  Illinois  was  rescinded. 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  245 


CHAPTER  XVII. 
Second  siege  of  Fort  Meigs. 

EARLY  in  July  1813,  the  Indians  began  again 
to  infest  the  country  around  Fort  Meigs.  Tecum- 
the  was  in  the  field  with  a  large  force ;  and  Dick- 
son,  an  active  partisan  who  had  great  control 
among  the  British  Indians,  was  also  there.  Their 
united  bands  amounted  to  5000  warriors.  General 
Harrison  received  this  intelligence  at  Lower  San- 
dusky,  to  which  place  he  had  just  returned  from 
Cleaveland.  Leaving  Major  Croghan  with  160 
regulars  at  Fort  Stephenson,  Lower  Sandusky,  he 
established  his  head  quarters  at  Seneca  Town,  nine 
miles  further  up  the  river;  and  with  only  140  regu 
lars,  began  to  fortify  a  camp.  He  was  soon  after 
joined  by  450  regulars,  under  Colonels  Paul  of  the 
infantry,  and  Ball  of  the  dragoons ;  and  by  Gene 
rals  M'Arthur  and  Cass,  of  Ohio. 

At  Seneca,  the  general,  with  his  usual  sagacity, 
had  chosen  a  position  from  which  he  could  with 
facility  fall  back  to  the  protection  of  his  principal 
depot  at  Upper  Sandusky,  should  the  enemy  endea 
vour  to  turn  his  flank  and  attack  that  place ;  or  he 
would  be  able,  should  the  safety  of  Fort  Meigs  re 
quire  it,  to  proceed  there  undiscovered,  on  a  secret 
21* 


246  MEMOIR    OF 

route,  and  cut  his  way  into  the  fort ;  or  he  would 
be  in  a  situation  from  which,  whenever  his  force 
should  be  sufficient,  he  could  carry  on  offensive 
operations.  Fort  Meigs  and  Upper  Sandusky  were 
the  points  to  be  defended — Lower  Sandusky  was 
comparatively  unimportant. 

General  Harrison  supposed  that  a  movement  of 
the  Indians  which  had  just  taken  place  towards 
Fort  Winchester,  was  intended  as  a  feint  to  draw 
his  attention  in  that  direction,  while  an  attack  would 
be  made  on  Cleaveland  or  Lower  Sandusky.  He 
was  therefore  actively  engaged  in  reconnoitring  the 
routes  to  Upper  Sandusky,  and  watching  the  lake. 

On  the  28th  of  July,  the  enemy  abandoned  the 
siege  of  Fort  Meigs,  and  sailed  round  into  Sandus 
ky  bay;  their  savage  allies  marching  across,  to  co 
operate  in  a  combined  attack  on  Lower  Sandusky. 
General  Harrison,  expecting  this  movement,  was 
preparing  for  it.  He  had,  with  Major  Croghan, 
and  some  other  officers,  made  a  thorough  exami 
nation  of  Fort  Stephenson,  and  the  surrounding 
heights,  and  was  satisfied  that  this  work  was  en 
tirely  untenable.  It  was  calculated  for  a  garrison 
of  only  200  men,  was  commanded  by  the  neigh 
bouring  grounds,  and  could  not  be  defended  against 
heavy  artillery.  The  orders,  therefore,  to  Major 
Croghan,  were,  "  Should  the  British  troops  approach 
you  in  force,  with  cannon,  and  you  can  discover 
them  in  time  to  effect  a  retreat,  you  will  do  so  im- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  247 

mediately."  "  You  must  be  aware,  that  the  attempt 
to  retreat  in  the  face  of  an  Indian  force  would  be 
vain.  Against  such  an  enemy  your  garrison  would 
be  safe,  however  great  the  number."* 

The  general  received  the  intelligence  of  the  rais 
ing  of  the  siege  of  Fort  Meigs  on  the  evening  of 
July  29 ;  and  anticipating  an  attack  on  Fort  Ste- 
phenson,  or  on  his  head  quarters  at  Seneca,  called 
a  council  of  war,  consisting  of  M'Arthur,  Cass, 
Ball,  Paul,  Wood,  Hukill,  Holmes,  and  Graham, 
who  unanimously  concurred  with  him  that  Fort 
Stephenson  could  not  be  defended  against  artillery, 
and  that,  being  an  unimportant  post,  the  garrison 
should  be  withdrawn.  The  following  order  was 
in  consequence  sent  to  Major  Croghan : — 

«  SIR, 

"  Immediately  on  receiving  this  letter,  you  will 
abandon  Fort  Stephenson,  set  fire  to  it,  and  repair 
with  your  command  this  night  to  head  quarters. 
Cross  the  river  and  come  up  on  the  opposite  side. 
If  you  should  deem  and  find  it  impracticable  to 
make  good  your  march  to  this  place,  take  the  road 
to  Huron,  and  pursue  it  with  the  utmost  circumspec 
tion  and  dispatch." 

The  messenger  who  carried  this  order  missed 
his  way,  and  Major  Croghan  did  not  receive  it  until 

*  M'Affee,  Dawson. 


248  MEMOIR    OF 

the  next  day,  when  he  did  not  conceive  he  could 
retreat  with  safety,  as  the  Indians  were  hovering 
round  the  fort,  in  large  numbers.  A  majority  of 
his  officers  coincided  with  him  in  opinion,  and  the 
following  note  was  written  to  the  general : — 

"  SIE, 

"  I  have  just  received  yours  of  yesterday,  ten 
o'clock,  P.  K.,  ordering  me  to  destroy  this  place 
and  make  good  my  retreat,  which  was  received  too 
late  to  be  carried  into  execution.  We  have  deter 
mined  to  maintain  this  place,  and  by  Heavens  we 
can." 

Major  Croghan,  in  writing  this  note,  took  into 
consideration  the  probability  of  its  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  and  used  language  of  which, 
under  other  circumstances,  he  would  have  seen  the 
impropriety.  General  Harrison,  who  was  not  ac 
quainted  with  the  secret  reasons  which  dictated  the 
dispatch,  no  sooner  received  it,  than  he  sent  Colonel 
Wells  to  Fort  Stephenson,  escorted  by  a  squadron 
of  dragoons,  with  the  following  letter : — 

"July  30, 1813. 
"  SIR, 

"  The  general  has  just  received  your  letter  of  this 
date,  informing  him  that  you  had  thought  proper  to 
disobey  the  order  issued  from  this  office,  and  deliv 
ered  to  you  this  morning.  It  appears  that  the  in- 


WILLIAM    HENKY    HARRISON.  249 

formation  which  dictated  the  order  was  incorrect ; 
and  as  you  did  not  receive  it  in  the  night  as  was 
expected,  it  might  have  been  proper  that  you  should 
have  reported  the  circumstances,  and  your  situation, 
before  you  proceeded  to  its  execution.  This  might 
have  been  passed  over ;  but  I  am  directed  to  say  to 
you,  that  an  officer  who  presumes  to  aver  that  he 
has  made  his  resolution,  and  that  he  will  act  in 
direct  opposition  to  the  orders  of  his  general,  can 
no  longer  be  intrusted  with  a  separate  command. 
Colonel  Wells  is  sent  lo  relieve  you.  You  will 
deliver  the  command  to  him,  and  repair  with  Colo 
nel  Ball's  squadron  to  this  place.  By  command,  &c. 
"A.  H.  HOLMES,  Ass't.  Ad't.  Gen." 

The  squadron  of  dragoons  by  whom  this  order 
was  sent,  found  the  fort  surrounded  by  lurking  par 
ties  of  Indians,  some  of  whom  they  pursued  and  cut 
down.  Major  Croghan  returned  to  head  quarters, 
as  directed,  and  was  politely  received  by  General 
Harrison,  to  whom  he  made  such  explanations  as 
were  deemed  entirely  satisfactory.  The  next  morn 
ing  he  was  reinstated  in  his^ command,  with  orders 
of  the  same  tenor  as  those  above  stated.  No  op 
portunity,  however,  was  afforded  to  the  gallant 
major  to  evacuate  his  post.  On  the  morning  of 
the  31st  of  July,  the  enemy  approached  Fort  Ste- 
phenson  by  water,  and  landed  a  number  of  troops, 
with  a  light  howitzer.  The  fort  was  then  summoned, 


250  MEMOIR    OF 

and  the  same  declaration  made,  which  was  usually 
employed  by  the  British  during  this  campaign; 
namely,  that  unless  the  garrison  should  surrender, 
they  could  not  be  protected  from  massacre  by  the 
Indians,  in  case  the  fort  should  be  taken.  To  this 
atrocious  threat,  as  unjustifiable  by  any  of  the 
usages  of  war,  as  it  was  cowardly  and  discourteous, 
Ensign  Shipp,  who  received  the  flag,  replied  on  the 
part  of  Major  Croghan,  "That  when  the  fort 
should  be  taken,  there  would  be  none  left  to  mas 
sacre  ;  as  it  would  not  be  given  up  while  a  man 
was  able  to  fight." 

A  fire  was  opened  from  some  six-pounders  in  the 
boats,  and  from  the  howitzer,  with  little  effect.  The 
fort  was  surrounded  by  500  British  regulars,  and 
800  Indians,  the  whole  commanded  by  General 
Proctor  in  person ;  while  Tecumthe,  with  2000  In 
dians,  watched  the  road  to  Fort  Meigs,  to  intercept 
any  reinforcement  that  might  attempt  to  approach 
in  that  direction.  Croghan  had  but  one  piece  of 
artillery,  a  six-pounder,  which  he  removed  from 
place  to  place,  and  fired  in  different  directions,  to 
induce  the  belief  that  he  had  several  guns.  Thus 
passed  the  evening  and  night. 

The  firing  was  commenced  early  the  next  morn 
ing,  and  continued  through  the  day.  In  the  even 
ing  an  assault  was  made  by  the  whole  force  of  the 
enemy,  in  two  columns,  one  led  by  Colonel  Short, 
the  other  by  Colonel  Warburton  and  Major  Cham- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  251 

bers.  They  rushed  to  the  works  with  great  bra 
very  ;  but  one  column  was  completely  prostrated 
by  a  fire  from  the  six-pounder,  which  was  suddenly 
opened  from  a  masked  embrasure ;  while  the  other 
was  thrown  into  confusion  by  a  destructive  fire  of 
musketry,  kept  up  by  Captain  Hunter.  Colonel 
Short,  a  lieutenant,  and  twenty-five  privates,  were 
left  dead  in  the  ditch,  and  twenty-six  of  the  enemy, 
badly  wounded,  were  taken.  The  loss  on  our  side 
was  one  killed,  and  seven  slightly  wounded.  There 
were  probably  150  of  the  enemy  killed  and  wounded. 

When  the  fighting  ceased,  it  was  dark,  and  the 
situation  of  the  wounded  in  the  ditch  was  deplora 
ble.  Complete  relief  could  not,  with  safety,  be 
afforded  them  from  either  side.  Major  Croghan, 
however,  instead  of  imitating  the  conduct  of  the 
enemy,  who  usually  caused  the  wounded  and  pris 
oners  to  be  dispatched,  or  subjected  them  to  insults 
and  cruelty  worse  than  death,  continued  to  convey 
water  to  them  over  the  picketing,  and  opened  a 
passage,  through  which  such  as  chose  crept  into 
the  fort,  and  were  kindly  treated. 

At  three  o'clock  the  next  morning,  the  whole 
British  and  Indian  force  commenced  a  disorderly 
retreat. 

Fort  Stephenson,  which  was  the  scene  of  this 
singular  and  gallant  achievement,  was  not  a  regu 
lar  fortification.  It  was  originally  an  Indian  trading 
post,  consisting  of  a  large  house  surrounded  by 


252  MEMOIR    OF 

pickets.  For  the  convenience  of  making  it  a  tem 
porary  depot  for  provisions,  General  Harrison  had 
enlarged  the  enclosure  on  one  side,  and  had  caused 
a  ditch  to  be  drawn  round  the  whole,  so  as  to  ren 
der  it  safe  from  any  attack  by  an  Indian  force ;  but 
it  was  never  contemplated  that  it  could  be  held 
against  regular  troops.  It  was  a  mere  outpost,  of 
little  importance ;  and  has  derived  its  consequence 
solely  from  the  remarkable  facts  of  which  it  was 
Ihe  scene — from  being  assailed  by  the  British  com 
manding  general  in  person,  at  the  head  of  an  im 
posing  force,  and  successfully  defended  by  a  hand 
ful  of  brave  but  inexperienced  soldiers. 

In  his  official  report,  General  Harrison  remarks, 
"  It  will  not  be  among  the  least  of  General  Proc 
tor's  mortifications,  to  find  that  he  has  been  baffled 
by  a  youth  who  has  just  passed  his  twenty-first 
year.  He  is  however  a  hero,  worthy  of  his  gallant 
uncle,  General  George  Rogers  Clarke."  The  offi 
cers  under  Croghan  in  this  noble  affair,  were  Cap 
tain  Hunter,  of  the  17th,  Lieutenants  Johnson  and 
Baylor,  of  the  17th,  Anthony  and  Anderson,  of  the 
24th,  Meeks,  of  the  7th,  and  Ensigns  Shipp  and 
Duncan,*  of  the  17th — all  of  whom  behaved  hand 
somely. 

The  best  acts  of  distinguished  men  are  often  mis 
understood,  or  mischievously  perverted.  No  sooner 
was  the  brilliant  achievement  of  Croofhan  known 


Joseph  Duncan,  now  governor  of  Illinois. 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON  253 

to  the  public,  than  the  enemies  of  Harrison  assailed 
him  with  the  most  bitter  denunciations.  The  men 
who  sate  by  their  firesides,  enjoying  all  the  com 
forts  of  peace,  while  war  was  raging  on  our  bor 
ders — the  opposers  of  the  administration  of  the 
virtuous  Madison — the  craven  spirits  who  would 
have  purchased  a  peace  from  Britain  by  dishonour 
able  submission,  now  poured  out  a  stream  of  malig 
nant  sarcasm  upon  the  leader  of  an  army,  whose 
patriotism  and  sufferings  they  were  incompetent  to 
appreciate.  The  decided  disapprobation  with  which 
these  charges  against  the  character  of  their  accom 
plished  leader,  were  viewed  by  the  officers  under 
Harrison,  must  be  evident  from  the  prompt  and 
indignant  manner  in  which  they  were  refuted. 
When  the  newspapers  in  which  these  unjust  stric 
tures  were  published,  reached  the  army,  the  officers 
highest  in  rank,  who  had  witnessed  all  the  trans 
actions,  conceived  it  their  duty  to  publish  the  truth, 
while  the  circumstances  were  yet  fresh  in  memory ; 
and  the  following  paper  was  signed,  and  forwarded 
to  the  interior  for  publication  ; — 

"  LOWER  SENECA  TOWN,  Aug.  19, 1813. 
"  The  undersigned,  being  the  general,  field,  and 
staff  officers,  with  that  portion  of  the  north-western 
army  under  the  immediate  command  of  General 
Harrison,  have  observed  with  regret  and  surprise, 
that  charges,  as  improper  in  the  form  as  in  the 
22 


254  MEMOIR    OF 

substance,  have  been  made  against  the  conduct  of 
General  Harrison,  during  the  recent  investment  of 
Lower  Sandusky.  At  another  time,  and  under 
ordinary  circumstances,  we  should  deem  it  improper 
and  unmilitary  thus  publicly  to  give  any  opinion 
respecting  the  movements  of  the  army.  But  public 
confidence  in  the  commanding  general  is  essential 
to  the  success  of  the  campaign,  and  causelessly  to 
withdraw  or  to  withhold  that  confidence,  is  more 
than  individual  injustice;  it  becomes  a  serious  injury 
to  the  service.  A  part  of  the  force  of  which  the 
American  army  consists,  will  derive  its  greatest 
strength  and  efficacy  from  a  confidence  in  the  com 
manding  general,  and  from  those  moral  causes 
which  accompany  and  give  energy  to  public  opin 
ion.  A  very  erroneous  idea  respecting  the  number 
of  the  troops  then  at  the  disposal  of  the  general, 
has  doubtless  been  the  primary  cause  of  those  un 
fortunate  and  unfounded  impressions.  In  that  re 
spect  we  have  fortunately  experienced  a  very  favour 
able  change.  But  we  refer  the  public  to  the  general's 
official  report  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  of  Major 
Croghan's  successful  defence  of  Lower  Sandusky. 
In  that  will  be  found  a  statement  of  our  whole  dis 
posable  force ;  and  he  who  believes  that  with  such 
a  force,  and  under  the  circumstances  which  then 
occurred,  General  Harrison  ought  to  have  advanced 
upon  the  enemy,  must  be  left  to  correct  his  opinion 
in  the  school  of  experience. 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  255 

"  On  a  review  of  the  course  then  adopted,  we  are 
decidedly  of  the  opinion,  that  it  was  such  as  was 
dictated  by  military  wisdom,  and  by  a  due  regard 
to  our  own  circumstances  and  to  the  situation  of  the 
enemy.  The  reasons  for  this  opinion  it  is  evidently 
improper  now  to  give ;  but  we  hold  ourselves  ready 
at  a  future  period,  and  when  other  circumstances 
shall  have  intervened,  to  satisfy  every  man  of  its 
correctness  who  is  anxious  to  investigate  and  will 
ing  to  receive  the  truth.  And  with  a  ready  acqui 
escence,  beyond  the  mere  claims  of  military  duty, 
we  are  prepared  to  obey  a  general,  whose  measures 
meet  our  most  deliberate  approbation,  and  merit 
that  of  his  country. 

LEWIS  CASS,  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  A. 

SAMUEL  WELLS,  Col.  17  R.  U.  S.  I. 

THOMAS  D.  OWINGS,  Col.  28  R.  U.  S.  I. 

GEORGE  PAUL,  Col.  17  R.  U.  S.  I. 

J.  C.  BARTLETT,  Col.  Q.  M.  G. 

JAMES  V.  BALL,  Lieut.  Col. 

ROBERT  MORRISON,  Lieut.  Col. 

GEORGE  TODD,  Maj.  19  R.  U.  S.  I. 

WILLIAM  TRIGG,  Maj.  28  R.  U.  S.  I. 

JAMES  SMILEY,  Maj.  28  R.  U.  S.  I. 

RD.  GRAHAM,  Maj.  17  R.  U.  S.  I. 

GEORGE  CROGHAN,  Maj.  17  R.  U.  S.  I. 

L.  HUKILL,  Maj.  &  Assist.  Insp.  Gen. 

E.  D.  WOOD,  Maj.  Engineers." 


256  MEMOIR    OF 

The  gallant  Croghan,  too,  scorning  to  receive 
applause  at  the  expense  of  the  honour  of  a  general 
whose  intrepidity  and  wisdom  had  been  the  themes 
of  eulogy  throughout  the  whole  army,  immediately 
published  a  document  which  reflects  as  high  credit 
on  the  character  of  this  noble-spirited  Kentuckian, 
as  the  victory  to  which  it  alludes.  We  lay  it  before 
the  reader,  that  the  opinion  of  Croghan  may  be 
seen,  as  written  by  himself,  on  the  battle-ground  at 
Sandusky. 

"  LOWER  SANDUSKY,  Aug.  27, 1813. 

"  I  have  with  much  regret  seen  in  some  of  the 
public  prints  such  misrepresentations  respecting  my 
refusal  to  evacuate  this  post,  as  are  calculated  not 
only  to  injure  me  in  the  estimation  of  military  men, 
but  also  to  excite  unfavourable  impressions  as  to 
the  propriety  of  General  Harrison's  conduct  rela 
tive  to  this  affair. 

"  His  character  as  a  military  man  is  too  well 
established  to  need  my  approbation  or  support. 
But  his  public  service  entitles  him  at  least  to  com 
mon  justice.  This  affair  does  not  furnish  cause  of 
reproach.  If  public  opinion  has  been  lately  misled 
respecting  his  late  conduct,  it  will  require  but  a  mo 
ment's  cool,  dispassionate  reflection,  to  convince 
them  of  its  propriety.  THE  MEASURES  RECENTLY 

ADOPTED  BY  HIM,  SO  FAR  FROM  DESERVING  CEN 
SURE,  ARE  THE  CLEAREST  PROOFS  OF  HIS  KEEN 
PENETRATION  AND  ABLE  GENERALSHIP.  It  IS  true 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  257 

that  I  did  not  proceed  immediately  to  execute  his 
order  to  evacuate  this  post ;  but  this  disobedience 
was  not,  as  some  would  wish  to  believe,  the  result 
of  a  fixed  determination  to  maintain  the  post  con 
trary  to  his  most  positive  orders,  as  will  appear 
from  the  following  detail,  which  is  given  to  explain 
my  conduct. 

"About  10  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  30th 
ultimo,  a  letter  from  the  adjutant  general's  office, 
dated  Seneca  Town,  July  29th,  1813,  was  handed 
me  by  Mr.  Connor,  ordering  me  to  abandon  this 
post,  burn  it,  and  retreat  that  night  to  head  quar 
ters.  On  the  reception  of  the  order,  I  called  a  coun 
cil  of  officers,  in  which  it  was  determined  not  to 
abandon  the  place,  at  least  until  the  further  plea 
sure  of  the  general  should  be  known,  as  it  was 
thought  that  an  attempt  to  retreat  in  the  open  day, 
in  the  face  of  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy,  would 
be  more  hazardous  than  to  remain  in  the  fort,  under 
all  its  disadvantages.  I  therefore  wrote  a  letter  to 
the  general,  couched  in  such  terms  as  I  thought 
were  calculated  to  deceive  the  enemy  should  it  fall 
into  his  hands,  which  T  thought  more  than  proba 
ble, — as  well  as  to  inform  the  general,  should  it  be 
so  fortunate  as  to  reach  him,  that  I  would  wait  to 
hear  from  him,  before  I  should  proceed  to  execute 
his  order.  This  letter,  contrary  to  my  expectations, 
was  received  by  the  general,  who,  not  knowing 
what  reasons  urged  me  to  write  in  a  tone  so  decisive, 
22* 


258  MEMOIR    OF 

concluded  very  rationally  that  the  manner  of  it 
was  demonstrative  of  the  most  positive  determina 
tion  to  disobey  his  order  under  any  circumstances. 
I  was  therefore  suspended  from  the  command  of 
the  fort,  and  ordered  to  head  quarters.  But  on  ex 
plaining  to  the  general  my  reason  for  not  executing 
his  orders,  and  my  object  in  using  the  style  I  had 
done,  he  was  so  perfectly  satisfied  with  the  expla 
nation,  that  I  was  immediately  reinstated  in  the 
command. 

*'  It  will  be  recollected  that  the  order  above  al 
luded  to,  was  written  on  the  night  previous  to  my 
receiving  it — had  it  been  delivered  to  me,  as  was 
intended,  that  night,  I  should  have  obeyed  it  with 
out  hesitation  ;  its  not  reaching  me  in  time  was  the 
only  reason  which  induced  me  to  consult  my  offi 
cers  on  the  propriety  of  waiting  the  general's  fur 
ther  orders. 

"  It  has  been  stated,  also,  that  *  upon  my  repre 
sentations  of  my  ability  to  maintain  the  post,  the 
general  altered  his  determination  to  abandon  it.' 
This  is  incorrect.  No  such  representations  were 
ever  made.  And  the  last  order  I  received  from  the 
general  was  precisely  the  same  as  that  first  given, 
viz.  *  That  if  I  discovered  the  approach  of  a  large 
British  force  by  water,  (presuming  that  they  would 
bring  heavy  artillery,)  time  enough  to  effect  a  re 
treat,  I  was  to  do  so  ;  but  if  I  could  not  retreat  with 
safety,  to  defend  the  post  to  the  last  extremity.' 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  259 

"A  day  or  two  before  the  enemy  appeared  before 
Fort  Meigs,  the  general  had  reconnoitred  the  sur 
rounding  ground,  and  being  informed  that  the  hill 
on  the  opposite  side  of  Sandusky  completely  com 
manded  the  fort,  I  offered  to  undertake,  with  the 
troops  under  my  command,  to  remove  it  to  that 
side.  The  general,  upon  reflection,  thought  it  best 
not  to  attempt  it,  as  he  believed  that  if  the  enemy 
again  appeared  on  this  side  of  the  lake,  it  would  be 
before  the  work  could  be  finished. 

"  It  is  useless  to  disguise  the  fact,  that  this  fort 
is  commanded  by  the  points  of  high  ground  around 
it ;  a  single  stroke  of  the  eye  made  this  clear  to  me 
the  first  time  I  had  occasion  to  examine  the  neigh 
bourhood,  with  a  view  of  discovering  the  relative 
strength  and  weakness  of  the  place. 

"  It  would  be  insincere  to  say  that  I  am  not  flat 
tered  by  the  many  handsome  things  which  have 
been  said  about  the  defence  which  was  made  by 
the  troops  under  my  command ;  but  I  desire  no 
plaudits  which  are  bestowed  upon  me  at  the  ex 
pense  of  General  Harrison. 

"  I  have  at  all  times  enjoyed  his  confidence  so 
far  as  my  rank  in  the  army  entitled  me  to  it,  and 
on  proper  occasions  received  his  marked  attention. 
I  have  felt  the  warmest  attachment  for  him  as  a 
man,  and  my  confidence  in  him  as  an  able  com 
mander  remains  unshaken.  I  feel  every  assurance 
that  he  will  at  all  times  do  me  ample  justice ;  and 


260  MEMOIR    OF 

nothing  could  give  me  more  pain  than  to  see  his 
enemies  seize  upon  this  occasion  to  deal  out  their 
unfriendly  feelings  and  acrimonious  dislike — and 
as  long  as  he  continues  (as  in  my  humble  opinion 
he  has  hitherto  done)  to  make  the  wisest  arrange 
ments  and  most  judicious  disposition  which  the 
forces  under  his  command  will  justify,  I  shall  not 
hesitate  to  unite  with  the  army  in  bestowing  upon 
him  that  confidence  which  he  so  richly  merits,  and 
which  has  on  no  occasion  been  withheld. 
"  Your  friend, 

"  GEORGE  CROGHAN, 

"  Maj.  llth  Infantry,  commanding  Lower  Sandusky." 

It  would  be  improper  to  pass  over  so  important 
a  passage  in  the  life  of  General  Harrison,  without 
comment ;  and  the  more  so,  as  there  is  no  event  in 
the  brilliant  career  of  this  accomplished  leader,  in 
which  he  has  evinced  such  consummate  general 
ship  ;  yet  none  in  which  his  conduct  has  been  so 
little  understood,  or  so  grossly  misrepresented. 

At  the  period  when  Croghan  was  ordered  to 
evacuate  Fort  Stephenson,  Fort  Meigs  was  invested 
by  1500  British  regulars  and  Canadians,  and  by 
5000  Indian  warriors  led  by  Tecumthe  and  Dick- 
son.  A  large  portion  of  the  latter  were  Winneba- 
goes,  and  others,  of  the  fiercest  of  the  Indian 
tribes,  from  the  shores  of  the  upper  lakes ;  who 
were  brought  for  the  first  time  to  operate  against 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  261 

the  army  of  Harrison,  by  a  promise  that  Fort 
Meigs  should  be  stormed,  and  that  the  garrison 
and  property  should  be  given  over  to  the  Indians, 
to  be  dealt  with  according  to  their  own  rules  of 
warfare. 

Information  of  these  facts  was  brought  to  Gene 
ral  Harrison  by  Captains  Oliver  and  M'Cune,  who 
intrepidly  passed  through  the  invading  force,  to 
head  quarters,  to  solicit  a  reinforcement. 

Captain  M'Cune  returned  with  advices  from 
General  Harrison  to  General  Clay,  and  had  just 
reached  Fort  Meigs,  when  the  allied  enemy  prac 
tised  a  subtle  manoeuvre,  for  the  purpose  of  draw 
ing  our  troops  out  from  the  fort.  A  sham  fight  was 
acted  in  sight  of  the  garrison :  the  Indian  yell  was 
heard,  and  the  savages  seen  attacking  a  column  of 
Canadians,  who  were  but  partially  visible,  and  who 
were  intended  to  represent  the  troops  of  Harrison. 
The  white  men  were  thrown  into  confusion ;  and 
then  rallied,  and  the  Indians  gave  back.  It  was 
supposed  that  General  Clay  would  mistake  the 
Canadians  for  a  strong  reinforcement  coming  to  his 
relief;  and  seeing  them  thus  engaged,  would  rush 
out  with  his  whole  force  to  their  support.  But  the 
recent  arrival  of  M'Cune  with  advices  from  head 
quarters,  prevented  the  American  general  from 
being  deceived;  although  the  stratagem  was  so 
well  executed,  that  the  troops,  notwithstanding  the 


262  MEMOIR    OF 

representations  of  M'Cune,  could  scarcely  be  re 
strained. 

Some  dissatisfaction  on  the  part  of  Tecu rathe  at 
an  alleged  act  of  bad  faith  in  Proctor,  induced  that 
chief  to  withdraw  with  500  warriors  in  the  direction 
of  Fort  Winchester.  This  movement  being  at  vari 
ance  with  the  most  recent  advices,  and  with  the 
supposed  plans  of  the  enemy,  made  it  more  neces 
sary  for  the  commander-in-chief  to  look  closely  to 
the  present  safety  of  several  important  points, 
which  he  was  preparing  to  defend. 

The  most  important  places  to  be  looked  to,  were 
Upper  Sandusky  and  Cleaveland.  The  former 
was  the  principal  dep6t  of  provisions,  upon  which 
the  whole  army  depended  for  its  support ;  and  at 
the  latter  the  boats  were  building,  under  the  direc 
tion  of  Major  Jessup,  for  the  transportation  of  the 
troops  in  the  intended  descent  upon  Maiden. 

On  the  receipt,  therefore,  of  the  intelligence 
brought  by  the  intrepid  Oliver,  and  of  other  in 
formation,  the  general  fell  back,  with  the  small 
disposable  force  under  his  immediate  command,  to 
Seneca,  thirty  miles  in  advance  of  Upper  San- 
dusky,  for  the  purpose  of  covering  that  important 
place,  and  of  throwing  out  assistance  to  Cleaveland 
or  Fort  Meigs,  as  circumstances  might  require. 

The  Indian  force  then  in  the  field  was  the  largest 
and  most  formidable  which  had  ever  been  assem 
bled  ;  it  was  one  with  which  General  Harrison  had 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  263 

not  the  strength  to  contend  in  open  battle ;  but  he 
well  knew  that  it  could  not  be  kept  together  for  any 
considerable  length  of  time;  and  his  undoubted 
policy  was  to  keep  his  inferior  force  as  much  toge 
ther  as  possible,  under  the  cover  of  their  fortifica 
tions — to  avoid  weakening  his  army  by  detach 
ments,  which  would  probably  be  cut  off — to  cover 
his  provisions  and  boats — and  to  be  prepared,  on 
the  dispersion  of  the  Indians,  to  strike  a  decisive 
blow  at  the  enemy,  in  his  strong-hold  at  Maiden. 

Fort  Stephenson  was  an  outpost,  used  for  a  tem 
porary  purpose,  and  not  forming  any  material  part 
of  the  great  plan,  either  of  defence  or  attack ;  and 
which,  therefore,  it  would  not  have  been  good  policy 
to  maintain  at  any  great  expense  of  bloo^,  or  by 
any  hazard  of  more  important  objects.  The  order 
therefore  to  Croghan  to  abandon  that  work,  was 
dictated  by  sound  military  principles.  The  acci 
dental  delay  of  the  delivery  of  that  order  to  Major 
Croghan,  and  the  more  rapid  approach  of  the 
enemy  than  had  been  expected,  justified  that  brave 
and  chivalrous  officer  in  the  determination  to  main 
tain  his  post.  But  the  same  reason  which  rendered 
it  impracticable  for  Croghan  to  retire,  made  it 
equally  impossible  for  the  general  to  advance  a  de 
tachment  to  his  relief.  An  immense  Indian  force 
was  lying  in  wait  for  such  a  movement ;  and  al 
though  the  small  parties  of  mounted  men,  who 
bore  the  orders  to  and  fro,  eluded  or  cut  their  way 


264  MEMOIR    OF 

through  them,  any  larger  body  of  troops  attempting 
to  pass  between  Seneca  and  Lower  Sandusky,  must 
have  been  cut  to  pieces — a  catastrophe  which  would 
have  given  renewed  audacity  to  the  enemy,  while 
it  would  have  so  crippled  our  army  as  to  have  dis 
abled  the  general  from  giving  efficient  protection 
to  Upper  Sandusky  and  Cieaveland. 

Add  to  all  this  the  facts,  that  Fort  Meigs  was 
strong  and  ably  defended,  and  needed  no  reinforce 
ment,  unless  the  siege  should  be  protracted ;  and 
that  the  strongest  corps  under  Harrison's  immediate 
command,  was  a  fine  squadron  of  dragoons  which 
could  not  act  efficiently  in  the  wooded  country 
around  Seneca,  and  towards  Lower  Sandusky,  but 
would  form  a  potent  force  in  the  open  plains 
around  Upper  Sandusky,  to  which  the  general 
proposed  to  retire, — and  it  will  be  seen  that  this 
sagacious  leader  had  maturely  weighed  every  con 
tingent  circumstance,  and  adopted  the  only  mea 
sures  consistent  with  the  safety  of  his  army,  and 
the  honour  of  the  American  name. 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  265 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Preparations  for  the  invasion  of  Canada* 

THE  time  had  now  arrived  when  General  Harri 
son  found  himself  in  a  condition  to  reap  the  fruits 
of  his  long  and  arduous  exertions,  to  carry  into 
effect  the  intentions  of  the  government,  and  to  real 
ize  the  hopes  and  expectations  of  the  country* 
Through  a  long  series  of  hardships,  and  in  the  face 
of  the  most  appalling  obstacles,  he  had  successfully 
defended  the  frontier  from  depredation,  and  the  fire 
side  of  the  citizen  from  the  desecration  of  brutal 
violence.  The  troops,  animated  by  the  spirit  of  the 
commander-in-chief,  and  by  the  noble  examples  of 
the  distinguished  gentlemen  who  held  high  com 
mands  under  him,  had  borne  themselves  with  great 
courage  in  action,  and  with  heroic  patience  under 
the  severities  of  the  climate  and  the  privations  of 
the  wilderness. 

It  is  not  to  be  disguised,  that  on  some  occa 
sions  disaffection  showed  itself  in  the  army ;  the 
men  became  impatient  for  action,  or  clamorous  to 
•  return  to  their  homes,  and  the  conduct  of  General 
Harrison  was  censured  in  the  newspapers  of  the 
day.  It  is  almost  fruitless  to  inquire,  now,  why 
any  attempt  should  have  been  made  to  discredit  a 


266  MEMOIR    OF 

commander  possessing  the  confidence  of  the  troops 
and  the  people  in  a  most  remarkable  degree,  and 
directing  his  force  with  such  uniform  conduct  and 
discretion.  It  is  to  be  recollected,  however,  that 
this  army  was  composed  chiefly  of  militia,  who 
volunteered  their  services  for  short  periods ;  and 
that  the  individuals  composing  each  corps,  would 
naturally  desire  that  their  own  brief  term  of  em- 
ployment  should  be  signalized  by  some  brilliant 
exploit.  The  American  volunteer  goes  to  the  field 
under  high  excitement — with  lively  feelings  of  pa 
triotism  and  of  personal  honour,  which  induce  an 
eagerness  for  battle,  and  an  impatience  to  return 
home  with  the  laurels  of  victory.  Patient  endurance 
of  delay,  blind  obedience,  passive  and  uninquiring 
submission,  are  not  the  virtues  of  irregular  troops. 
The  army  of  Harrison  was  made  up  chiefly  of 
citizens — high-spirited  men,  of  every  grade  of  intel 
lect — recently  from  home — unused  to  military  re 
straint — and  accustomed  to  think  for  themselves. 
Some  of  the  officers  were  lawyers  and  politicians ; 
some  were  members  of  Congress,  or  of  the  state 
legislatures;  and  a  few  had  served  in  previous 
wars.  There  was  of  course  a  great  diversity  of 
opinion  in  relation  to  every  movement  of  the  army, 
graduated  from  the  extreme  of  caution  to  that  of 
rashness.  They  did  not  reflect  that  General  Har 
rison  had  military  experience,  knowledge  of  the 
country,  and  intimacy  with  the  Indian  character, 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  267 

superior  to  their  own  ;  that  he  had  more  extensive 
means  of  acquiring  information  ;  that  he  was  acting 
under  instructions  which  it  was  not  his  duty  to 
make  public;  and  that,  after  all,  he  was  the  respon 
sible  individual,  who  would  have  to  bear  all  the 
blame  in  case  of  failure,  and  who  was  bound  to 
think  for  himself.  He  consulted  his  officers  freely, 
and  then  acted  according  to  his  own  judgment. 

Nor  was  the  peculiar  situation  of  General  Har 
rison  understood  by  those  who  clamoured  for  more 
speedy  results  than  those  which  seemed  at  first  to 
follow  his  operations.  His  first  and  most  sacred 
duty  was  to  defend  the  firesides  of  his  countrymen. 
An  immense  line  of  exposed  frontier  was  commit 
ted  to  his  care ;  and  he  would  have  been  a  traitor 
to  his  trust,  had  he  permitted  a  thirst  for  personal 
fame  to  lead  him  madly  into  the  enemy's  country, 
while  his  own  was  at  the  mercy  of  the  savage. 
Like  every  other  gallant  soldier,  he  coveted  mili 
tary  reputation,  and  ardently  longed  to  meet  the 
foe  on  the  battle-field ;  but  it  is,  and  ever  has  been, 
a  noble  trait  in  the  character  of  this  distinguished 
man,  to  sacrifice  all  personal  considerations  to  his 
sense  of  duty.  Few  men  in  high  station  have  ever 
evinced  such  uniform  disinterestedness. 

We  hope  we  shall  not  be  misunderstood  when 
we  say  that  discontents,  on  a  few  occasions,  pre 
vailed  among  our  troops.  It  would  have  been  ex- 
traordinarv  if  such  had'  not  been  the  case.  Seldom 


268  MEMOIR    OF 

have  troops  suffered  so  much  or  so  cheerfully ;  sel 
dom  has  there  been  an  army  so  badly  supported  by 
the  government,  and  upon  whose  individual  patriot 
ism,  courage,  and  resources,  so  great  dependence 
was  unavoidably  placed.  A  large  majority  of  the 
citizens  who  were  thus  situated  were  rash  hot- 
blooded  young  men,  the  sons  of  independent  farm 
ers, — the  pride  and  flower  of  the  chivalrous  West. 
They  were  men  who  thought,  and  had  a  right  to 
think ;  and  whenever  men  think,  there  will  be  a 
diversity  of  opinion.  As  a  general  fact,  however, 
and  with  only  a  few  rare  and  brief  exceptions, 
Harrison  enjoyed  the  affection  and  confidence  of 
his  followers  to  an  unlimited  extent,  and  the  utmost 
harmony  prevailed  throughout  the  army.  When, 
in  a  few  instances,  the  troops  became  dissatisfied, 
his  manner  of  bringing  them  back  to  their  sense 
of  duty  was  as  characteristic  of  himself,  as  it  was 
indicative  of  his  talent  for  commanding,  and  know 
ledge  of  human  nature.  He  did  not  forget  that  he 
commanded  an  army  of  citizens,  that  he  was  but  a 
citizen  himself,  elevated  for  the  time  above  his 
equals,  for  the  public  good,  and  occupying  a  pa 
triarchal  station.  Instead,  therefore,  of  employing 
coercion,  or  using  degrading  punishments,  he  ap 
pealed  to  their  patriotism  in  animated  harangues, 
which  never  failed  to  produce  the  desired  effect. 
During  the  whole  term  of  his  service,  he  never 
caused  a  militia  soldier  to  be  punished,  yet  always 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  269 

commanded  the  respect  and  obedience  of  the  mili 
tia.  His  speeches  are  said  to  have  been  uncom 
monly  happy;  they  were  pointed,  glowing,  and 
always  appropriate  to  the  occasion.  Like  the  cele 
brated  General  Mifflin  of  Pennsylvania,  his  elo- 
.quence  enabled  him  to  command,  without  the  ap 
pearance  of  effort. 

Having  with  consummate  skill  carried  forward 
the  defensive  operations  of  the  war  up  to  this  point, 
General  Harrison  now  proceeded  to  mature  his  plan 
for  the  capture  of  Maiden,  and  the  conquest  of 
Upper  Canada.  Commodore  Perry  had  been  di 
rected  to  co-operate  with  him  ;  Colonel  Johnson's 
mounted  regiment,  which  had  returned  home,  was 
again  called  into  service ;  Governor  Meigs  exerted 
himself  to  bring  the  brave  Ohians  into  the  field ; 
and  the  venerable  Shelby,  at  the  invitation  of  Har 
rison,  resolved  to  lead  in  person,  to  the  invasion  of 
Canada,  a  fresh  band  of  Kentuckians. 
23* 


270  MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Perry's  victory — Preparations  for  invading 
Canada. 

OUR  attention  will  now  be  directed  briefly  to  the 
naval  armament  upon  Lake  Erie,  which  had  grown 
up,  as  if  by  magic,  in  the  bosom  of  the  wilderness. 
At  the  commencement  of  the  year  1813,  the  British 
had  a  fleet,  which  gave  them  the  command  of  the 
lake,  while  not  a  vessel  floated  under  our  flag  west 
ward  -of  the  Falls  of  Niagara.  The  government, 
finding  how  necessary  it  was  to  gain  the  ascendency 
upon  the  lakes,  determined  to  proceed  vigorously 
in  the  creation  of  a  fleet ;  and  the  heroic  Perry  was, 
in  a  happy  hour  for  his  country,  appointed  to  su 
perintend  this  important  work.  It  is  said  that  seve 
ral  officers  of  the  same  grade  declined  the  command 
on  Lake  Erie,  under  the  impression  that  there  would 
be  less  opportunity  of  reaping  laurels  there  than  on 
the  ocean ;  but  the  gallant  Perry  more  sagaciously 
reflected,  that  an  officer  gained  the  highest  honour 
fey  serving  where  the  country  most  demanded  his 
services,  and  that  a  victory  achieved  upon  an  inland 
lake,  in  the  command  of  a  fleet,  would  be  more 
unique  and  brilliant  than  any  exploit  which  could 
be  performed  with  a  single  ship  on  the  ocean. 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  271 

The  difficulties  that  attended  the  building  of  a 
fleet  at  Erie,  need  not  be  dwelt  upon.  Like  Harri 
son,  he  had  every  thing  to  create,  and  was  obliged 
to  rely  much  on  his  own  mental  resources,  his  per 
sonal  influence,  and  his  industry.  Persevering  with 
indefatigable  resolution,  through  a  series  of  per 
plexing  and  disheartening  circumstances,  his  little 
fleet  slowly  but  gradually  swelled  into  maturity ; 
and  before  the  enemy  was  aware  of  the  formidable 
character  of  the  preparations  which  were  going 
forward,  the  enterprising  commodore  was  afloat  on 
his  favourite  element,  flushed  with  hope,  and  eager 
for  battle. 

On  the  2d  of  August,  1813,  the  commodore 
commenced  getting  his  heavier  vessels  over  the  bar 
at  the  mouth  of  the  harbour  of  Erie.  The  opera 
tion  required  time  and  care,  and  it  was-successfully 
effected  in  the  sight  of  the  enemy,  whose  fleet 
arrived  off  Erie  on  the  3d,  and  after  watching  this 
operation,  retired  as  soon  as  all  our  vessels  were 
seen  riding  safely  on  the  lake.  The  commodore 
now  proceeded  to  Sandusky  Bay,  where  he  was 
visited  by  General  Harrison,  who  supplied  him  with 
some  men,  to  act  as  marines. 

Our  fleet  then  proceeded  towards  Maiden,  and 
the  American  flag  was  proudly  displayed  before 
the  strong-hold  of  the  enemy.  The  British  launched 
another  vessel,  and  the  two  fleets  were  apparently 
of  equal  force  ;  but  the  superiority  was  undoubtedly 


272  v  MEMOIR    OF 

theirs,  as  their  vessels  were  larger,  and  carried 
more  guns  than  ours.  The  whole  number  of  guns 
carried  by  our  squadron  was  fifty-four  cannon,  and 
two  swivels ;  while  the  British  mounted  sixty-three 
cannon,  two  swivels,  and  four  howitzers. 

As  the  enemy  made  no  show  of  an  intention  to 
accept  the  challenge  thrown  out  by  the  appearance 
of  our  fleet  on  their  shores,  the  gallant  commodore 
retired  ;  and  again  visited  Maiden  after  an  absence 
of  some  days.  At  length,  on  the  10th  of  Septem 
ber,  Commodore  Barclay,  a  skilful  and  veteran 
officer,  sailed  from  Maiden,  and  offered  battle  to 
our  eager  seamen.  We  shall  not  repeat  here  the 
details  of  this  brilliant  action,  which  are  familiar  to 
our  countrymen.  The  battle  was  hard  fought,  and 
skilfully  directed — and  the  chivalrous  Perry  gather 
ed  laurels  as  lasting  as  they  were  dearly  earned 
and  richly  merited.  With  a  fleet  constructed  under 
his  own  eye,  and  crews  disciplined  by  himself — on 
an  untried  scene — he  planned  his  battle  with  saga 
city,  and  conducted  it  with  a  coolness,  and  a  prodi 
gality  of  self-exposure,  never  excelled.  For  two 
hours  and  a  half,  the  victory  was  doubtful ;  but  our 
triumph  in  the  event  was  complete,  and  the  whole 
of  the  enemy's  squadron  was  captured.  "  We 
have  met  the  enemy,  and  they  are  ours,"  were  the 
brief  words  in  which  Perry  announced  his  splendid 
triumph  to  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  north 
western  army. 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  273 

Had  the  noble  deeds  of  Perry  ended  here,  his 
name  would  deservedly  have  been  placed  among 
the  foremost  of  naval  heroes — but  the  brightness 
of  his  fame  was  enhanced  by  other  circumstances 
— his  courtesy  to  the  prisoners,  his  humanity  to 
the  wounded,  the  modesty  with  which  he  announc 
ed  his  victory,  the  disinterestedness  with  which  he 
-divided  the  glory  of  the  triumph  with  his  subordi 
nates,  and  his  subsequent  conduct,  leave  us  nothing 
to  regret  and  nothing  to  wish  in  relation  to  the 
moral  beauty  of  this  achievement,  and  the  spotless 
reputation  of  its  hero.  Many  brave  young  officers 
distinguished  themselves  under  his  command,  who 
are  now  serving  with  reputation,  or  are  remembered 
with  respect. 

In  the  mean  while,  preparations  were  in  active 
progress  for  the  descent  upon  Canada.  General 
M' Arthur,  of  Ohio,  had  been  placed  in  command 
of  Fort  Meigs,  with  instructions  to  reduce  the  area 
of  the  works,  and  to  make  arrangements  to  ship 
the  heavy  artillery,  and  a  portion  of  the  military 
stores.  The  mounted  regiment  of  Johnson  repaired 
again  to  the  frontier.  By  the  1st  of  September, 
the  arrival  of  thirty  wagons,  and  a  brigade  of  pack- 
horses,  placed  the  general  in  a  condition  to  begin 
the  business  of  transportation.  The  9th  of  the  same 
month  had  been  appointed  by  the  President,  at  the 
request  of  Congress,  as  a  day  of  fasting,  humilia 
tion,  and  prayer ;  and  little  as  religion  is  usually 


274  MEMOIR    OF 

respected  in  armies,  this  day  was  observed  with 
decorum  by  all,  and  employed  by  many  in  exercises 
of  sincere  devotion. 

Governor  Shelby  was  on  his  way  to  the  frontier 
with  a  strong  body  of  mounted  men ;  General 
Adair,  a  distinguished  soldier,  was  one  of  his  aids, 
and  John  J.  Crittenden,  equally  eminent  as  a  law 
yer  and  politician,  the  other.  These  troops  were 
organized,  on  their  arrival  at  Urbana,  into  eleven 
regiments,  commanded  by  Colonels  Trotter,  Don 
aldson,  Poague,  Montjoy,  Renwick,  Davenport, 
Paul,  Galloway,  Lirnral,  Barbour,  and  Williams. 
These  regiments  were  formed  into  five  brigades, 
commanded  by  Brigadiers  Calmes,  Chiles,  King, 
Allen,  and  Caldwell,  and  the  whole  into  two  divi 
sions,  under  Major  Generals  William  Henry  and 
Joseph  Desha. 


WILLIAM   HENRY   HARRISON.  275 


CHAPTER  XX. 

Invasion  of  Canada — Battle  of  the  Thames,  and 
capture  of  the  British  army  —  Expedition  to 
Niagara — Resignation  of  General  Harrison. 

THE  artillery,  military  stores,  and  provisions,  at 
Fort  Meigs,  were  embarked  on  the  16th  of  Septem 
ber,  1813,  by  General  M' Arthur.  General  Clay, 
with  the  Kentuckians  at  that  place,  whose  term  of 
service  had  expired,  had  solicited  permission  to  ac 
company  the  proposed  expedition,  and  now  pro 
ceeded  with  the  stores.  The  provisions  from  Upper 
Sandusky  were  also  pushed  forward  ;  and  the  troops 
were  concentrated  at  the  place  of  embarkation  on 
Sandusky  Bay.  On  the  20th,  General  Harrison 
embarked  with  the  regular  troops  under  Generals 
M'Arthur  and  Cass ;  and  between  that  time  and 
the  24th,  the  remainder  of  the  army  followed  to  the 
place  of  rendezvous,  at  Put-in  Bay.  On  the  26th, 
General  Harrison  sailed  with  Commodore  Perry, 
in  the  Ariel,  to  reconnoitre  Maiden ;  and  on  his 
return  issued  a  general  order,  prescribing  minutely 
the  order  of  debarkation,  march,  and  battle,  in  the 
clear  and  accurate  manner  customary  with  this 
accomplished  commander. 


276  3IEMOIR    OF 

On  the  27th  the  army  was  embarked,  and  pro 
ceeded  towards  the  Canada  shore ;  the  general  hav 
ing  first  circulated  among  the  troops  a  spirited 
address,  in  which,  among  other  things,  he  said, 
"  Remember  the  River  Raisin ;  but  remember  it 
only  whilst  victory  is  suspended.  The  revenge  of 
a  soldier  cannot  be  gratified  on  a  fallen  enemy." 

The  army  landed  in  high  spirits;  but  not  an 
enemy  was  to  be  seen.  Proctor  had  burned  the 
fort  and  navy-yard,  and  retreated  to  Sandwich. 
The  victory  of  Perry,  and  the  advance  of  Harrison, 
had  daunted  the  courage  of  the  British  commander ; 
yet  he  had,  a  few  days  before,  proclaimed  martial 
law,  and  was  issuing  15,000  rations  per  day — a 
fact  which  shows  him  to  have  been  at  the  head  of 
a  numerous  force. 

The  troops  encamped  that  night  on  the  ruins  of 
Maiden.  This  was  a  proud  moment  for  the  pa 
triotic  Harrison.  Surrounded  by  his  gallant  fel 
low-citizens,  he  stood  upon  the  ruined  breastworks 
of  that  fortress  from  which  destruction  had  been 
poured  upon  the  frontier,  whence  the  Indian  had 
been  sent  forth  with  the  firebrand  and  tomahawk 
to  his  work  of  desolation,  and  where  the  gory 
scalps  of  Americans — of  women  and  children,  as 
well  as  of  men  slain  in  fight — were  exhibited  as 
trophies  of  British  victory.  The  strong- hold  of  the 
enemy  was  abandoned. 

Harrison  wrote  to  the  War  Department,  "  I  will 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  277 

pursue  the  enemy  to-morrow,  although  there  is  no 
probability  of  overtaking  him,  as  he  has  upwards 
of  1000  horses,  and  we  have  not  one  in  the  army." 
He  proceeded,  accordingly,  the  next  day,  to  Sand 
wich  ;  but  Proctor  had  fled. 

"  The  inhabitants  of  Canada  had  fled  from  their 
houses,  and  hid  their  property,  on  the  approach  of 
the  American  army,  fully  expecting  that  the  Ken- 
tuckians,  like  the  British,  would  plunder  and  mas 
sacre  all  before  them :  but  they  found  themselves 
happily  disappointed  in  these  expectations."*  Go 
vernor  Shelby,  who  accompanied  General  Harri 
son,  had  issued  an  order  to  the  Kentucky  volunteers, 
in  which  he  said,  "  While  the  army  remains  in  this 
country,  it  is  expected  that  the  inhabitants  will  be 
treated  with  justice  and  humanity,  and  their  prop 
erty  secured  from  unnecessary  and  wanton  injury." 

On  the  1st  of  October,  the  general  officers  were 
convened,  and  General  Harrison  stated  his  intention 
of  pursuing  the  enemy.  He  informed  them,  says 
M'Affee,  "  that  there  were  but  two  ways  of  doing 
it — one  of  which  was,  to  follow  him  up  the  strait, 
by  land — the  other,  to  embark  and  sail  down  Lake 
Erie  to  Long  Point,  then  march  hastily  across  by 
land  twelve  miles  to  the  road,  and  intercept  him. 
'  But  the  governor  thinks,  and  so  do  I,  that  the 
best  way  will  be,  to  pursue  the  enemy  up  the 

*  M'Affee, 
84 


278  MEMOIR    OF 

strait,  by  land.'  The  general  officers  unanimously 
concurred  in  the  same  opinion,  together  with  Gene 
ral  Adair,  first  aid  to  the  governor,  who  had  been 
invited  to  the  council.  I  have  been  thus  particular 
in  stating  the  facts,"  continues  M'Affee,  "  relative 
to  the  determination  to  pursue  the  enemy,  because 
it  has  been  reported  and  believed  that  General  Har 
rison  never  would  have  pursued  farther  than  Sand 
wich,  had  it  not  been  for  Governor  Shelby,"  &c. 
The  fact  is,  there  never  was  any  difference  of  opin 
ion  between  them,  either  as  to  the  propriety  of  the 
pursuit,  or  the  manner  of  performing  it. 

We  shall  pass  over  a  number  of  interesting  de 
tails  which  are  not  material  to  the  issue ;  and  bring 
the  reader  at  once  to  the  battle-ground.  After  a 
severe  pursuit,  the  enemy  was  overtaken,  on  the  5th 
of  October.  General  Proctor  was  well  posted,  in  a 
position  where  his  left  was  flanked  by  the  river 
Thames,  and  his  right  by  a  swamp.  Beyond  the 
latter,  and  between  it  and  another  swamp  still  further 
to  the  right,  were  the  Indians  under  Tecumthe.  It 
was  on  this  occasion  that  General  Harrison  practised 
a  movement  which,  while  it  insured  an  easy  victory, 
evinced  a  high  degree  of  military  genius,  and 
promptitude  of  character.  The  army  was  formed 
upon  proper  military  principles,  with  the  addition, 
that  the  flanks  and  rear  were  more  strongly  se 
cured  than  usual,  to  guard  against  the  Indian  mode 
of  warfare, — when  Colonel  Wood  reported  to  the 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  279 

general,  that  he  had  just  reconnoitred  the  enemy,  and 
found  their  regular  infantry  formed  in  open  order. 
Proctor  had  probably  heard  that  this  mode  of 
formation  was  practised  by  us  in  fighting  the  In 
dians,  and  had  misapplied  the  principle.  He  had 
committed  an  egregious  error,  and  Harrison  in 
stantly  availed  himself  of  it.  Aware  that  troops  in 
open  order,  that  is,  with  intervals  of  three  or  four 
feet  between  the  files,  could  not  resist  a  charge  of 
mounted  men,  he  directed  Colonel  Johnson  to  dash 
through  the  enemy's  line  in  column.  The  experi 
ment  was  made  with  brilliant  success.  The  mount 
ed  men  charged  with  ease  through  the  ranks  of  the 
enemy,  formed  in  their  rear,  and  assailed  their 
broken  line.  The  battle  was  gained.  No  sooner 
was  their  line  broken,  than  the  British  began  to 
throw  down  their  arms,  and  a  victory,  almost 
bloodless  on  our  part,  was  obtained  by  the  consum 
mate  ability  with  which  the  commander-in-chief 
wielded  his  forces,  and  the  rapidity  with  which  he 
took  advantage  of  the  mistakes  of  his  adversary 

On  our  left,  some  fighting  took  place  with  the 
Indians.  A  lively  fire  was  kept  up  for  a  short 
time.  The  Indians  rushed  up  to  the  mounted  men, 
and  fiercely  contested  the  ground  for  a  few  min 
utes,  until  Tecumthe  fell,  as  is  supposed,  by  the 
hand  of  Colonel  Johnson. 

The  whole  British  army  was  captured,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  that  galloped  off  with  General 


280  MEMOIR    OF 

Proctor.  A  guilty  conscience  gave  wings  to  the 
flight  of  this  miscreant,  whose  whole  career  on  our 
borders  had  been  a  continued  series  of  treachery, 
rapine,  and  murder;  and  who  having  pledged  him 
self  to  the  Indians  to  give  up  to  them  General 
Harrison  and  his  men,  when  taken,  to  be  massa 
cred  and  scalped,  may  have  thought  it.  not  prudent 
to  trust  his  own  person  in  the  hands  of  the  Ameri 
cans.  A  greater  monster  never  existed  in  human 
shape ;  yet  the  British  government  sanctioned  his 
atrocities,  by  giving  him  promotion. 

The  British  had  eighteen  killed  and  twenty-six 
wounded  ;  the  number  of  prisoners  taken  was  600. 
Our  loss  was  about  the  same  in  killed  and  wounded. 
The  number  of  troops  engaged  on  our  side  was  less 
than  2500,  of  whom  nearly  all  were  militia.  The 
enemy  brought  into  the  field  845  regular  soldiers, 
and  2000  Indians ;  so  that  if  there  was  any  differ 
ence  in  point  of  numbers,  it  was  in  their  favour. 

We  must  close  our  protracted  account  of  this 
splendid  achievement.  The  defeat  of  the  enemy 
was  the  consequence  of  a  novel  and  most  able  dis 
position  of  our  army  by  its  commander,  and  the 
quickness  with  which  he  took  advantage  of  the 
enemy's  errors  on  the  field  of  battle,  at  the  mo 
ment  of  engaging,  and  of  the  gallantry  of  our 
brave  troops.  It  closed  the  war  in  that  quarter ; 
and,  together  with  the  brilliant  victory  of  Percy  on 
the  adjacent  lake,  rescued  the  whole  north-western 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  281 

frontier  from  the  depredations  of  the  savage,  and 
from  all  the  accumulated  horrors  of  war.  In  the 
language  of  the  Hon.  Langdon  Cheves  on  the  floor 
of  Congress,  "  The  victory  of  Harrison  was  such 
as  would  have  secured  to  a  Roman  general,  in  the 
best  days  of  the  republic,  the  honours  of  a  triumph. 
He  put  an  end  to  the  war  in  the  uppermost  Cana 
da."  He  received  his  reward.  He  was  compli 
mented  by  Congress,  and  by  various  public  bodies. 
There  was  but  one  voice — it  was  that  of  national 
gratitude,  bursting  out  in  loud  acclamation,  in  ap 
plause  of  the  public  services  of  a  great  national 
benefactor. 

As  the  enemy  was  now  completely  beaten  on 
the  north-western  frontier,  General  Harrison  deter 
mined  to  take  part  of  his  troops  to  the  Niagara 
frontier,  to  assist  in  the  operations  that  were  going 
on  in  that  quarter.  This  movement  formed  no  part 
of  the  plan  of  the  campaign  which  he  was  ordered 
to  execute,  but  resulted  solely  from  a  desire  to  ren 
der  those  troops  as  serviceable  as  possible,  which 
had  been  raised  and  organized  at  so  great  an  ex 
pense  of  labour  and  money.  The  Secretary  of 
War,  then  on  the  shores  of  the  lower  lakes,  had,  it 
is  true,  sent  him  an  order  to  proceed  to  Niagara, 
when  he  should  have  completed  the  conquest  of 
Upper  Canada;  but  the  bearer,  Captain  Brown, 
was  drowned,  and  the  order  never  reached  General 
24* 


282  MEMOIR    OF 

Harrison — who  now,  in  a  second  instance,  antici 
pated  the  intentions  of  the  government. 

On  his  arrival  at  Fort  Niagara,  preparations 
were  made  for  an  expedition  against  Burlington 
Heights,  which  were  arrested  by  an  order  from  the 
Secretary  of  War,  directing  General  Harrison  to 
proceed  to  Sackett's  Harbour  with  his  troops.  He 
accompanied  the  troops  to  the  latter  place,  and 
then  set  out,  by  way  of  New-York  and  Philadel 
phia,  for  Washington.  The  news  of  the  victory 
of  the  Thames  had  preceded  him,  and  he  was 
received  everywhere  with  public  rejoicings,  and 
with  the  most  decided  demonstrations  of  respect. 
-  In  the  city  of  Washington  he  remained  but  a 
few  days.  His  presence  in  Ohio  was  considered 
essential ;  and  he  was  urged  by  the  President  to 
repair  to  Cincinnati,  to  superintend  the  preparations 
for  measures  then  in  anticipation. 

We  are  sorry  to  be  obliged  to  add,  that  the  mili 
tary  services  of  General  Harrison  were  now  brought 
abruptly  to  a  close.  He  expected,  and  it  was  the 
expectation  of  the  public,  that  an  important  com 
mand  would  be  assigned  him  in  the  ensuing  cam 
paign.  At  that  time  the  victories  of  Brown,  Macomb, 
and  Jackson,  had  not  been  gained.  Harrison  only 
had  led  his  countrymen  to  victory,  and  he  stood 
confessedly  first  on  the  list  of  American  generals. 
The  Secretary  of  War,  however,  had  determined, 
for  reasons  which  it  would  be  difficult,  at  this  pe- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  283 

riod,  to  explain,  to  dispense  with  the  active  services 
of  this  popular  and  successful  officer ;  and  in  the 
plan  for  future  operations,  which  he  laid  before  the 
President,  the  command  of  a  district  was  assigned 
to  General  Harrison,  while  the  invasion  of  Canada 
was  to  be  intrusted  to  others. 

A  brave  officer,  who  had  served  under  General 
Harrison,  makes  the  following  remarks  on  this 
subject : — 

"  The  letter  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  of  the  3d 
of  November,  gave  strong  indications,  that  so  far 
as  the  arrangement  could  be  controlled  by  his 
efforts,  General  Harrison  would  not  be  permitted 
to  participate  in  any  of  the  important  or  glorious 
operations  of  the  approaching  campaign.  A  major 
general  who  was  in  the  prime  of  life,  who  had 
fought  with  reputation  under  Wayne,  who  had  sig 
nalized  his  name  and  character  in  the  memorable 
and  well-contested  events  at  Tippecanoe  and  Fort 
Meigs,  and  who  had,  by  a  bloodless  victory  on  the 
Thames,  achieved  by  the  suggestions  of  his  mas 
terly  genius,  given  peace  to  a  widely  extended 
frontier,  restored  an  important  territory  to  our  go 
vernment,  and  acquired  possession  of  the  greater 
portion  of  Upper  Canada,  was  thus  directed  to 
remain  in  a  district  at  no  one  point  of  which  was 
there  more  than  a  regiment  stationed."  "  In  the 
mean  time  the  Secretary  had  ventured  on  the  very 
indelicate  and  outrageous  proceeding  of  not  only 


284  MEMOIR  or 

designating  a  subordinate  officer  for  a  particular 
service,  within  the  district,  but  of  transmitting  the 
order  directly  to  him  to  take  a  certain  portion  of 
the   troops,  without   consulting   the   commanding 
officer  of  the  immediate  post  or  district.    His  order 
of  the  25th  of  April  to  Major  Holmes,  was  not  less 
insulting  to  the  commanding  general,  than  it  was 
conducive  to  every  species  of  insubordination.  The 
command  of  a  major  general  was  not  even  nomi 
nal,  if  a  secretaiy,  at  a  distance  of  one  thousand 
miles,  were  permitted  thus  to  interfere  in  the  internal 
concerns  of  his  district.    This  course  was  evidently 
intended  as  a  source  of  mortification  to  General 
Harrison,  when  contrasted  with  the  unlimited  pow 
ers  confided  to  him  in  the  campaigns  of  1812-13. 
On  the  receipt,  therefore,  of  the  notification  from 
the  War  Department,  of  the  order  of  the  25th  of 
April,  General  Harrison  instantly  addressed  a  let 
ter  of  resignation  to  the  Secretary,  and  a  notifica 
tion  of  it  to  the  President.     As  soon  as  Governor 
Shelby  beard  of  the  resignation  of  General  Harri 
son,  he  lost  no  time  in  addressing  the  President  in 
his  usual  forcible  terms,  to  prevent  his  acceptance 
of  it ;  but  unfortunately  for  the  public  interests,  the 
President  was  on  a  visit  to  Virginia,  to  which  place 
the  letters  from  General  Harrison  and  Governor 
Shelby  were  forwarded,  and  that  of  the  latter  was 
not  received  .until  after  Secretary  Armstrong,  with 
out  the  previous  consent  of  the  President,  had 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  285 

assumed  to  himself  the  high  prerogative  of  ac 
cepting  the  resignation.  The  President  expressed 
his  great  regret  that  the  letter  of  Governor  Shelby 
had  not  been  received  earlier,  as  in  that  case  the 
valuable  services  of  General  Harrison  would  have 
been  preserved  to  the  nation  in  the  ensuing  cam 
paign."* 

If  General  Harrison  had  not  been  a  disinterested 
and  high-minded  man — if  he  could  have  sacrificed 
his  sense  of  duty  to  pecuniary  considerations,  he 
might  have  remained  with  his  family,  enjoying  his 
high  rank,  and  its  emoluments,  and  reposing  upon 
his  laurels ;  but  he  disdained  command,  or  the  re 
ception  of  pay  for  services  which  he  was  not  per 
mitted  to  perform,  and  cheerfully  retired  to  private 
ife  when  he  could  no  longer  be  useful  in  the  field. 

*  Dawson's  Life  of  Harrison. 


286  MEMOIR    OF 


CHAPTER  XXI. 
Civil  services  since  the  war. 

IN  the  summer  of  1814,  General  Harrison  was 
appointed,  in  conjunction  with  Governor  Shelby 
and  General  Cass,  to  treat  with  the  Indians  on  the 
north-western  frontier,  and  was  successful  in  con 
cluding  a  treaty  at  Greeneville,  the  old  head  quarters 
of  General  Wayne. 

In  1815,  after  the  peace  with  Great  Britain,  it 
became  requisite,  in  compliance  with  the  treaty 
made  at  Ghent,  to  offer  to  the  several  tribes  who 
had  taken  part  with  the  enemy,  the  restoration  of 
the  territories  which  they  had  occupied  before  the 
war,  and  from  which  they  were  driven  by  the  vic 
torious  arms  of  Harrison.  General  Harrison  was 
placed  at  the  head  of  this  commission,  and  Gene 
ral  M' Arthur,  and  the  Hon.  John  Graham,  asso 
ciated  with  him.  A  treaty  was  made  by  these 
commissioners,  at  Detroit,  in  the  same  year. 

In  1816,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  house 
of  representatives  in  Congress,  to  fill  a  vacancy 
occasioned  by  the  resignation  of  the  Hon.  John 
M'Lean,  and  also  for  the  succeeding  two  years. 
There  were  on  this  occasion  six  candidates,  but  he 
received  a  majority  of  more  than  a  thousand  votes 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  287 

over  the  number  given  for  all  his  competitors,  when 
added  together. 

About  this  time,  one  of  the  contractors  of  the 
army,  whose  gains  had  been  reduced  by  General 
Harrison's  rigid  integrity,  endeavoured  to  injure  his 
character,  by  charging  him  with  improper  conduct 
while  in  command  of  the  army.  General  Harri 
son  demanded  an  investigation  by  Congress,  and  a 
committee  was  appointed,  who,  after  a  strict  exami 
nation,  reported  by  their  chairman,  Richard  M. 
Johnson,  that  General  Harrison  "  stood  above  sus 
picion,"  and  "that  he  was,  in  his  measures,  go 
verned  by  a  proper  zeal  and  devotion  to  the  public 
interest."  One  of  the  members  of  the  committee, 
Mr.  Hulbert,  in  a  few  remarks  which  he  made  on 
the  occasion,  said  that  he  had  been  prejudiced 
against  General  Harrison,  but  this  investigation 
satisfied  him  that  the  accusation  was  false  and 
cruel.  "  He  was  confident  that  directly  the  reverse 
was  true.  There  was  the  most  satisfactory  evi 
dence  that  the  general,  in  the  exercise  of  his  official 
duties,  and  in  his  devotion  to  the  public  interest, 
had  neglected  his  private  concerns  to  his  material 
detriment  and  injury.  In  a  word,"  said  Mr.  Hul 
bert,  "  I  feel  myself  authorized  to  say,  that  every 
member  of  the  committee  is  fully  satisfied,  that  the 
conduct  of  General  Harrison  in  relation  to  the  sub 
ject-matter  of  this  inquiry,  has  been  that  of  a  brave 
honest,  and  honourable  man  ;  and  that,  instead  of 


288  MEMOIR    OF 

deserving  censure,  he  merits  the  thanks  and  ,p- 
plause  of  his  country." 

This  investigation  also  satisfied  Congress,  tr  at 
General  Harrison  had  been  unjustly  treated  by  tbe 
War  Department ;  and  a  resolution  giving  him  a 
gold  medal,  and  the  thanks  of  Congress,  was  now 
passed,  unanimously  in  the  senate,  and  with  only 
one  dissenting  voice  in  the  house. 

There  were  two  subjects  which  General  Harri 
son  had  greatly  at  heart,  in  seeking  a  seat  in  Con 
gress.  One  of  these  was  the  adoption  of  an  efficient 
militia  system;  and  the  other,  the  relief  of  the  vete 
ran  soldiers  who  had  served  in  the  two  wars  for  in 
dependence.  President  Washington,  and  all  his 
successors,  had  urged  upon  Congress  the  necessity 
of  a  more  perfect  organization  of  the  militia ;  but 
the  difficulties  which  surrounded  the  subject  had 
been  such,  that  nothing  had  been  done  in  relation 
to  it.  As  it  was  well  understood,  that  General 
Harrison  not  only  took  a  great  interest  in  this  sub 
ject,  but  fully  understood  it,  he  was  placed  at  the 
head  of  the  committee  to  whom  it  was  referred ; 
and  he  reported  a  bill,  together  with  an  explanatory 
report,  in  the  latter  of  which  are  discussed  the 
points:  first,  that  a  government  constituted  like 
ours  should  rely  upon  its  militia  for  defence,  rather 
than  on  a  standing  army;  secondly,  that  the  militia 
should  be  disciplined ;  and  thirdly,  that  a  state  of 
discipline  adequate  to  the  object  can  only  be  ob- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  299 

tained  by  the  adoption  of  a  system  of  military  in 
struction  combined  with  the  ordinary  education  of 
youth.  The  bill  seemed  to  be  generally  approved  ; 
but  the  indisposition  which  has  always  been  evinc 
ed  in  Congress  towards  the  discussion  of  this  sub 
ject,  caused  a  delay  in  taking  it  up  ;  and  it  was  not 
until  near  the  close  of  the  session  that  General 
Harrison,  by  great  exertions,  succeeded  in  getting 
it  debated  in  committee  of  the  whole.  His  speech 
on  that  occasion  has  not  been  fully  reported ;  but 
Mr.  Williams  of  North  Carolina,  afterwards,  in 
speaking  on  another  question,  remarked  that  "  the 
gentleman  from  Ohio  had  depicted  the  dangers  of 
a  standing  army  to  a  government  like  ours,  in  a 
strain  of  eloquence  such  as  had  rarely  been  wit 
nessed  in  that  house."  We  are  enabled  to  present 
a  very  meagre  outline  of  the  argument  of  that  mas 
terly  effort. 

Mr.  Harrison  remarked,  that  the  devoted  attach 
ment  which  has  always  been  manifested  by  the 
soldiers  of  a  veteran  army  towards  a  successful 
general,  had  its  source  in  a  principle  of  the  human 
mind,  which  was  the  same  in  all  countries,  and  in 
all  ages.  The  people  of  the  United  States  had  no 
reason  to  expect  that  they  would  be  exempt  from 
the  fate  of  other  republics,  unless  they  took  wisdom 
from  experience,  and  avoided  the  errors  which  had 
jeen  fatal  to  the  liberties  of  other  nations.  The 
greatest  of  those  errors  was  the  employment  of 
25 


290  MEMOIR    OF 

mercenary  armies  for  their  defence — in  other  words, 
making  the  military  a  distinct  profession.  The 
necessity  of  adopting  this  system  arose  from  the 
neglect  of  qualifying  the  citizens  to  become  their  own 
protectors.  If  the  citizens  were  not  soldiers,  sol 
diers  must  be  employed  in  war  who  were  not  citizens  ; 
or  citizens  who,  by  devoting  themselves  to  the  use 
of  arms,  as  a  profession,  would  soon  lose  the  char 
acter  of  citizens.  In  a  republic  which  would  secure 
safety  from  foreign  aggression  and  domestic  insur 
rection,  the  two  characters  must  be  united. 

But  the  mere  enrolment  of  persons  for  military 
service  did  not  render  them  soldiers.  To  become 
such,  they  must  be  subjected  to  a  rigid  discipline. 
The  source  of  courage  in  armies  is  the  conscious 
ness,  on  the  part  of  the  soldier,  of  possessing  the 
power  to  annoy  his  enemy,  and  to  defend  himself. 
To  acquire  the  knowledge  and  the  expertness  to 
give  this  confidence,  long  practice  in  the  use  of 
arms,  and  in  military  evolutions,  is  necessary — so 
long,  that  the  citizens  who  were  enrolled  for  militia 
duty,  could  never  spare  the  time  from  their  other 
avocations,  to  acquire  them.  To  force  them  to  do 
so,  would  prove,  to  the  poorer  class  especially,  an 
intolerable  burthen,  unless  they  were  paid,  which 
would  not  be  practicable,  with  the  limited  resources 
of  our  treasury.  The  opinion  prevailed  generally, 
that  arming  and  enrolling  the  militia  was  sufficient, 
and  the  exploits  of  the  armed  citizens  during  the 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  291 

late  war  had  been  quoted,  as  sustaining  that  posi 
tion  ;  in  answer  to  which  Mr.  Harrison  said,  that 
glorious  as  were  the  performances  of  the  undisci 
plined  rnilitia  in  the  late  contes,  the  victories  gained 
by  them  were,  with  a  single  exception,  achieved 
under  circumstances  peculiarly  adapted  to  their 
mode  of  warfare,  or  where  their  superiority  in  the 
use  of  small-arms  gave  them  a  decided  advantage  ; 
while  the  disasters  they  suffered,  were  all  attributa 
ble  to  the  want  of  discipline,  not  the  absence  of 
gallantry — for  the  latter  was  conspicuous  on  every 
occasion.  Battles  in  the  field  were  gained,  in  modern 
times,  as  far  as  troops  are  concerned,  by  a  facility 
in  performing  evolutions,  not  by  superiority  in 
firing ;  or  as  was  observed  by  the  famous  Count 
Saxe,  "  by  the  legs,  rather  than  the  arms." 

In  the  commencement  of  the  late  war,  continued 
Mr.  H.,  it  was  believed  that  a  small  body  of  regular 
troops,  with  the  aid  of  the  militia,  would  be  suffi 
cient.  The  establishment  accordingly  consisted  of 
two  major  generals,  and  twenty  regiments ;  but  it 
was  increased  at  every  session  of  Congress,  until 
it  amounted  to  six  major  generals  and  fifty  regi 
ments,  and  if  the  war  had  continued  two  years 
longer,  there  would  have  been  one  hundred  of  the 
latter — so  fully  established  had  become  the  opinion, 
that  the  resources  of  the  nation  would  be  inadequate 
to  carry  on  a  protracted  war  with  undisciplined 
militia.  If  then  standing  armies  were  dangerous 


292  MEMOIR    OF 

to  a  republic,  and  if  an  undisciplined  militia  is  in 
adequate  to  its  defence,  what  course  was  to  be 
adopted?  The  militia  must  be  disciplined.  But 
how  was  this  to  be  accomplished  1  Mr.  H.  entered 
into  a  minute  examination  of  all  the  plans  that  had 
been  proposed  at  various  times,  and  found  them 
unsatisfactory.  Among  them  was  one  proposed 
by  General  Knox,  during  the  administration  of 
Washington.  This  came  nearer  to  Mr.  Harrison's 
own  plan  than  any  other.  It  established  the  prin 
ciple,  that  the  military  education  of  youth  should 
take  place  between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and  twenty- 
one,  and  in  camps  of  discipline.  This  was  rejected 
upon  the  ground,  that  it  would  occupy  too  large  a 
portion  of  that  important  period  of  life,  when  a 
young  man  was  engaged  in  learning  a  trade  or 
profession. 

The  plan  proposed  in  the  report,  and  supported 
by  Mr.  H.,  was  that  of  the  ancient  republics,  which 
mingled  military  instruction  with  the  ordinary  edu 
cation  of  youth,  commencing  with  the  elementary 
military  duties  at  the  primary  schools,  and  ending 
with  the  higher  tactics  at  the  colleges.  The  expense 
was  to  be  borne  by  the  United  States ;  but  to  obvi 
ate  the  objection  of  the  increase  of  patronage  which 
it  would  give  to  the  general  government,  the  in 
structors  were  to  be  appointed  by  the  states  re 
spectively. 

The  system  explained  in  the  speech  of  which  we 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  293 

have  given  a  faint  outline,  was  submitted  to  the 
executive,  and  was  approved  by  all  the  heads  of 
departments — especially  by  Mr.  Monroe  and  Mr. 
Crawford.  The  latter,  having  doubts  of  the  con 
stitutionality  of  such  a  national  plan  of  education, 
drew  up  an  amendment  to  the  constitution  in  regard 
to  it,  to  be  submitted  to  Congress.  We  have  seen 
the  draft  in  his  handwriting.  But  the  whole  scheme 
was  unpalatable  to  Congress.  Just  escaped  from  a 
war,  and  wearied  with  military  details,  with  which 
few  of  the  members  had  any  personal  acquaint 
ance,  they  were  willing  to  escape  from  the  consid 
eration  of  a  subject  so  little  in  accordance  with  their 
tastes.  We  shall  only  remark,  that  General  Har 
rison's  bill  was  strongly  recommended  by  the  repub 
lican  features  with  which  it  was  stamped.  Had  it 
been  adopted,  there  would  have  existed  no  ground 
for  the  dispute  about  the  preference  for  situations 
at  West  Point.  The  children  of  the  rich  and  the 
poor  would  have  received  the  same  military  edu 
cation. 

The  subject  of  training  the  militia  was  one  to 
which  General  Harrison's  attention  had  been  early 
directed.  Although  he  had  spent  several  years  in 
the  army  as  a  regular  officer,  he  had  never  thought 
of  becoming  a  soldier  by  profession.  But  on  enter 
ing  upon  civil  duties,  being  always  strongly  addict 
ed  to  historical  reading,  it  was  natural  that  his 
knowledge  of  military  details  should  induce  him  to 
25* 


294  MEMOIR    OF 

relish  those  parts  of  history  which  treat  of  war. 
Having  been  educated  in  the  strictest  republican 
principles,  he  was  particularly  attracted  by  the 
early  periods  of  the  history  of  the  ancient  repub 
lics,  when  every  citizen  was  a  soldier ;  and  seeing 
that  their  downfall  was  usually  produced  by  the 
change  in  their  military  systems,  which  committed 
their  defence  to  the  hands  of  soldiers  by  profession, 
the  predilections  which,  as  a  regular  officer,  he 
might  be  supposed  to  have  imbibed,  were  com 
pletely  obliterated  by  the  impression,  that  the  liber 
ties  of  his  own  country  might  fall  through  the  same 
cause.  With  such  opinions  he  became  governor 
of  Indiana ;  and  rejoicing  in  the  opportunity  offered 
by  the  possession  of  almost  unlimited  power,  for 
trying  the  practicability  of  his  views  in  regard  to  a 
militia,  he  commenced  a  system  of  discipline,  in 
the  expectation  of  rendering  the  citizens  of  the  ter 
ritory  as  efficient  in  its  defence,  as  regular  soldiers. 
The  situation  of  the  country  rendered  the  experi 
ment  as  necessary  as  it  became  popular ;  and  the 
people  cheerfully  seconded  the  views  of  the  gover 
nor.  Being  qualified  for  the  task,  he  instructed 
them  personally,  performing  all  the  duties  of  the 
drill  officer;  while  he  at  the  same  time  pursued 
that  extensive  course  of  reading  which  has  rendered 
him  one  of  the  most  accomplished  soldiers  of  our 
country.  Few  men  have  read  history  with  more 
care,  or  greater  instruction.  By  these  means,  the 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  295 

militia  of  Indiana  were  so  well  trained,  that  when 
the  exigency  occurred,  they  were  found  to  equal 
regular  soldiers.  Had  not  such  been  the  case,  the 
advance  upon  Tippecanoe  would  not  have  been 
conducted  with  such  consummate  skill,  nor  closed 
with  so  brilliant  a  result.  During  the  march,  this 
body  of  troops  was  always  ready  to  meet  an  ene 
my — at  night  they  could  be  paraded  in  the  order 
of  battle  without  confusion — and  when  at  last  the 
enemy  assailed  them  under  the  cover  of  darkness, 
they  performed  the  frequent  changes  of  position, 
which  circumstances  required,  with  facility  and 
accuracy.  It  was  a  splendid  triumph  of  genius — 
in  which  the  reading,  the  thought,  and  the  labour 
of  years,  were  rewarded  by  a  triumphantly  success 
ful  result. 

In  the  war  which  followed,  General  Harrison 
again  exerted  himself  to  show  the  efficiency  of  the 
militia.  He  omitted  no  opportunity  to  inculcate 
upon  his  countrymen  that  they  were  as  capable  of 
self-defence  as  of  self-government,  and  that  they 
needed  as  little  a  standing  army  to  fight  their  bat 
tles,  as  an  hereditary  government  to  conduct  their 
civil  affairs ;  and  he  again  proved  the  correctness 
of  his  views,  by  leading  the  gallant  men  of  the 
West  to  battle  and  to  victory. 

In  January,  1818,  Mr.  Harrison  introduced  a 
resolution,  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  in  ho- 


296  MEMOIR    OF 

nour  of  the  memory  of  Kosciusko,  then  recently 
deceased ;  and  made  a  feeling  and  classical  speech. 

He  also  advocated  warmly  the  proposition  to  ac 
knowledge  the  independence  of  the  South  American 
republics. 

While  General  Harrison  was  in  the  House  of  Rep 
resentatives,  the  important  debate  arose,  on  the  reso 
lution  to  censure  General  Jackson  for  his  conduct 
in  the  Seminole  war ;  and  he  delivered  on  this  sub 
ject  a  most  elaborate  and  eloquent  speech.  It  was 
one  of  the  finest  efforts  elicited  by  that  interesting 
occasion  ;  but  is  chiefly  admirable  for  its  impartial 
and  patriotic  spirit.  While  he  disapproved  the 
course  of  General  Jackson,  and  commented  on  his 
conduct  with  the  manly  independence  of  a  freeman, 
he  defended  such  of  the  acts  of  that  distinguished 
citizen  as  he  thought  right,  and  did  justice  to  his 
motives.  His  concluding  remarks  were  as  fol 
lows  : — 

"  If  the  highest  services  could  claim  indemnity 
for  crime,  then  might  the  conqueror  of  Platsea  have 
been  suffered  to  continue  his  usurpations  until  he 
had  erected  a  throne  upon  the  ruins  of  Grecian 
liberty.  Sir,  it  will  not  be  understood  that  I  mean 
to  compare  General  Jackson  with  these  men.  No ; 
I  believe  that  the  principles  of  the  patriot  are  as 
firmly  fixed  in  his  bosom  as  those  of  the  soldier. 
But  a  republican  government  should  make  no  dis 
tinctions  between  men,  and  should  never  relax  its 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  297 

maxims  of  security  for  any  individual,  however 
distinguished.  No  man  should  be  allowed  to  say 
that  he  could  do  that  with  impunity  which  another 
could  not  do.  If  the  father  of  his  country  were 
'  alive,  and  in  the  administration  of  the  government, 
and  had  authorized  the  taking  of  the  Spanish  posts, 
I  would  declare  my  disapprobation  as  readily  as  I 
do  now.  Nay,  more — because  the  more  distin 
guished  the  individual,  the  more  salutary  the  exam 
ple.  No  one  can  tell  how  soon  such  an  example 
may  be  beneficial.  General  Jackson  will  be  faith 
ful  to  his  country ;  but  I  recollect  that  the  virtues 
and  patriotism  of  Fabius  and  Scipio,  were  soon  fol 
lowed  by  the  crimes  of  Marius  and  the  usurpation 
of  Sylla.  I  am  sure,  sir,  that  it  is  not  the  intention 
of  any  gentleman  upon  this  floor  to  rob  General 
Jackson  of  a  single  ray  of  glory ;  much  less  to 
wound  his  feelings,  or  injure  his  reputation.  And 
whilst  I  thank  my  friend  from  Mississippi,  (Mr. 
Poindexter,)  in  the  name  of  those  who  agree  with 
me  that  General  Jackson  has  done  wrong,  I  must 
be  permitted  to  decline  the  use  of  the  address  which 
he  has  so  obligingly  prepared  for  us,  and  substitute 
the  following,  as  more  consonant  to  our  views  and 
opinions.  If  the  resolutions  pass,  I  would  address 
him  thus :  *  In  the  performance  of  a  sacred  duty 
imposed  by  their  construction  of  the  constitution, 
the  representatives  of  the  people  Jiave  found  it 
necessary  to  disapprove  a  single  act  of  your  brilliant 


298  MEMOIR    OF 

career;  they  have  done  it  in  the  full  conviction  that 
the  hero  who  has  guarded  her  rights  in  the  field, 
will  bow  with  reverence  to  the  civil  institutions  of 
his  country — that  he  has  admitted  as  his  creed, 
that  the  character  of  the  soldier  can  never  be  corn-' 
plete  without  eternal  reference  to  the  character  of 
the  citizen.  Your  country  has  done  for  you  all 
that  a  country  can  do  for  the  most  favoured  of  her 
sons.  The  age  of  deification  is  past ;  it  was  an  age 
of  tyranny  and  barbarism  :  the  adoration  of  man 
should  be  addressed  to  his  Creator  alone.  You 
have  been  feasted  in  the  Pritanes  of  the  cities 
Your  statue  shall  be  placed  in  the  capitol,  and  your 
name  be  found  in  the  songs  of  the  virgins.  Go, 
gallant  chief,  and  bear  with  you  the  gratitude  of 
your  country.  Go,  under  the  full  conviction,  that 
as  her  glory  is  identified  with  yours,  she  has  no 
thing  more  dear  to  her  but  her  laws,  nothing 
more  sacred  but  her  constitution.  Even  an  unin 
tentional  error  shall  be  sanctified  to  her  service. 
It  will  teach  posterity  that  the  government  which 
could  disapprove  the  conduct  of  a  Marcellus,  will 
have  the  fortitude  to  crush  the  vices  of  a  Marius.' 

"  These  sentiments,  sir,  lead  to  results  in  which 
all  must  unite.  General  Jackson  will  still  live  in 
the  hearts  of  his  fellow-citizens,  and  the  constitution 
of  your  country  will  be  immortal." 

In  1819,  General  Harrison  was  elected  a  mem 
ber  of  the  senate  in  the  legislature  of  Ohio;  he 


WILLIAM    HENRY   HARRISON.  299 

served  in  this  capacity  two  years,  devoting  his 
mind  to  public  business  with  his  usual  ability  and 
industry.  He  was  also,  during  this  period,  one  of 
the  electors  of  president  and  vice-president,  and 
voted  for  James  Monroe  and  Daniel  D.  Tompkins. 
He  afterwards,  as  an  elector,  voted  for  Mr.  Clay. 

In  1822  he  was  again  a  candidate  for  Congress, 
and  was  defeated  in  consequence  of  having  voted 
against  the  Missouri  restriction. 

In  1824  he  was  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States ;  and  was  appointed  chairman  of  the 
Military  Committee,  in  place  of  General  Jackson, 
who  had  resigned.  He  introduced,  from  that  com 
mittee,  a  bill  for  the  prevention  of  desertion  in  the 
army.  He  proposed  to  effect  this  object,  not  by 
increasing  the  punishment,  but  by  raising  the  moral 
character  of  the  army,  elevating  the  grade  of  the 
non-commissioned  officer,  increasing  his  pay,  and 
making  him  more  respectable — and  by  holding  out 
inducements  to  the  soldier  to  perform  his  duty. 
These  points  he  enforced  in  an  elaborate  and  ani 
mated  speech. 

He  also  introduced  a  bill  for  decreasing  the  duty 
on  salt ;  which  he  supported  on  the  ground,  that  as 
this  article  is  a  necessary  of  life,  it  should  not  be 
burthened  with  a  tax  which  would  increase  its  price. 

A  bill  to  confer  the  appointment  of  cadets  at 
West  Point  on  the  sons  of  those  who  had  fallen  in 
battle,  in  defence  of  the  country,  was  introduced 


300  MEMOIR    OF 

into  the  Senate  by  Mr.  Robertson  of  Louisiana ; 
and  on  his  resignation,  was  left  in  the  care  of  Gene 
ral  Harrison,  who  advocated  it  warmly. 

He  also  devoted  his  attention  while  in  the  House, 
and  afterwards  in  the  Senate,  to  the  subject  of 
military  pensions,  and  endeavoured  to  procure  the 
passage  of  an  uniform  law,  which  should  embrace 
the  cases  of  all  those  who  should  be  deserving  of 
this  kind  of  justice  from  their  country. 

His  efforts  in  favour  of  the  claims  of  the  surviv 
ing  soldiers  of  the  revolution,  will  not  soon  be  for 
gotten  by  the  descendants  of  those  heroes.  His 
exertions,  joined  with  those  of  the  venerable  Bloom- 
field,  who,  as  chairman  of  the  committee  of  the 
House,  reported  the  bill,  and  of  some  other  mem 
bers,  prevailed  in  rescuing  those  meritorious  men 
frcjn  the  evils  of  neglect  and  poverty.  A  speech 
delivered  by  him  on  this  occasion  has  been  pub 
lished  in  the  newspapers,  and  is  one  of  the  ablest 
of  this  gentleman's  efforts — replete  with  good  sense, 
eloquence,  and  humanity. 

The  next  high  station  filled  by  General  Harrison 
was  that  of  minister  plenipotentiary  to  the§ Republic 
of  Colombia,  which  he  received  in  the  year  1828. 
He  proceeded  immediately  upon  his  mission,  landed 
at  Maracaybo  on  the  22d  of  December  in  that  year, 
and  repaired  thence  to  Bogota.  He  found  the  coun 
try  in  a  wretched  state  of  confusion ;  the  govern 
ment  a  military  despotism,  and  the  people  as  igno- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  301 

rant  of  their  rights  as  they  were  lawless  in  their 
conduct.  He  was  received  with  the  most  flattering 
demonstrations  of  respect ;  but  his  liberal  opinions, 
his  stern  republican  integrity,  and  the  plain  sim 
plicity  of  his  dress  and  manners,  contrasted  too 
strongly  with  the  arbitrary  opinions  and  ostenta 
tious  behaviour  of  the  public  officers,  to  allow  him 
to  be  long  a  favourite  with  those  who  had  usurped 
the  power  of  that  government.  They  feared  that 
the  people  would  perceive  the  difference  between  a 
real  and  a  pretended  patriot,  and  commenced  a 
series  of  persecutions  against  our  minister,  which 
rendered  his  situation  extremely  irksome.  He  sus 
tained  himself,  however,  with  his  usual  gallantry 
and  prudence. 

The  letter  of  General  Harrison  to  Bolivar  has 
already  been  published;  but  we  must  take  the  lib 
erty  of  reprinting  this  elegant  and  vigorous  produc 
tion,  which  does  honour  to  the  talents  of  the  writer, 
while  it  shows  how  deeply  his  mind  is  imbued  with 
the  principles  of  liberty,  and  the  fear  of  military 
encroachment.  No  American  can  read  it  without 
emotions  of  pride. 

BOGOTA,  27th  September,  1829. 
SIR,— 

If  there  is  any  thing  in  the  style,  the  matter,  or  the  object,  of 
this  letter,  which  is  calculated  to  give  offence  to  your  Excellency, 
I  am  persuaded  you  will  readily  fonirive  it,  when  you  reflect  on  the 
motives  which  induced  me  to  write  it.  An  old  soldier  could  possess 
no  feelings  hut  those  of  the  kindest  character  towards  one  who  has 
shed  so  much  lustre  on  the  profession  of  arms;  nor  can  a  citizen  of 
the  country  of  Washington  cease  to  wish  that,  in  Bolivar,  the  world 
might  behold  another  instance  of  the  highest  military  attainments 

26 


302  MEMOIR    OF 

united  with  the  purest  patriotism,  and  the  greatest  capacity  for  civil 
government. 

Such,  sir,  have  been  the  fond  hopes,  not  only  of  the  people  of  the 
United  States,  but  of  the  friends  of  liberty  throughout  the  world.  I 
will  not  say  that  your  Excellency  has  formed  projects  to  defeat  these 
hopes.  But  there  is  no  doubt,  that  they  have  not  only  been  formed, 
but  are,  at  this  moment,  in  progress  to  maturity,  and  openly  avow 
ed  by  those  who  possess  your  entire  confidence.  I  will  not  attribute 
to  these  men  impure  motives;  but  can  they  be  disinterested  advi 
sers?  Are  they  not  the  very  persons  who  will  gain  most  by  the 
proposed  change  ? — who  will,  indeed,  gain  all  that  is  to  be  gained, 
without  furnishing  any  part  of  the  equivalent  ?  That  that,  the  price 
of  their  future  wealth  and  honours,  is  to  be  furnished  exclusively  by 
yourself?  And  of  what  does  it  consist  ?  Your  great  character 
Such  a  one,  that,  if  a  man  were  wise,  arid  possessed  of  the  empirs 
of  the  Czesars,  in  its  best  days,  he  would  give  all  to  obtain.  Are  yoi> 
prepared  to  make  this  sacrifice,  for  such  an  object  ? 

I  am  persuaded  that  those  who  advocate  these  measures,  have 
never  dared  to  induce  you  to  adopt  them,  by  any  argument  foundi-i 
on  your  personal  interests  ;  and  that,  to  succeed,  it  would  be  neces 
sary  to  convince  you  that  no  other  course  remained,  to  save  the 
country  from  the  evils  of  anarchy.  This  is  the  question,  then,  tti 
be  examined. 

Does  the  history  of  this  country,  since  the  adoption  of  the  consti 
tution,  really  exhibit  unequivocal  evidence  that  the  people  are  unfit 
to  be  free?  Is  the  exploded  opinion  of  a  European  philosopher,  of 
the  last  age,  that  "  in  the  new  hemisphere,  man  is  a  degraded  being.' 
to  be  renewed,  arid  supported  by  the  example  of  Colombia  ?  The 
proofs  should,  indeed,  be  strong,  to  induce  an  American  to  adopt  ai1 
opinion  so  humiliating. 

Feeling  always  a  deep  interest  in  the  success  of  the  revolutions* 
in  the  late  Spanish  America,  I  have  never  been  an  inattentive  ob. 
server  of  events  pending,  and  posterior  to  the  achievement  of  its 
independence.  In  these  events,  I  search  in  vain  for  a  single  fact  to 
show  that,  in  Colombia  at  least,  the  state  of  society  is  unsuited  to 
the  adoption  of  a  free  government.  VVill  it  be  said  that  a  free  go 
vernment  did  exist,  but,  being  found  inadequate  to  the  objects  for 
which  it  had  been  instituted,  it  has  been  superseded  by  one  of  a  dif 
ferent  character,  with  the  concurrence  of  a  majority  of  the  people  ? 

It  is  the  most  difficult  thing  in  the  world  for  me  to  believe  that  a 
people  in  the  possession  of  their  rights  as  freemen,  would  ever  be 
willing  to  surrender  them,  and  submit  themselves  to  the  will  of  a 
master.  If  any  such  instances  are  on  record,  the  power  thus  trans 
ferred  has  been  in  a  moment  of  extreme  public  danger,  and  then 
limited  to  a  very  short  period.  I  do  not  think  that  it  is  by  any 
-means  certain,  that  the  majority  of  the  French  people  favoured  the 
elevation  of  Napoleon  to  the  throne  of  France.  But,  if  it  were  so, 
how  different  were  the  circumstances  of  that  country  from  those  of 
Colombia,  when  the  constitution  of  Cucuta  was  overthrown!  At 
the  period  of  the  elevation  of  Napoleon  to  the  first  consulate,  all 
the  powers  of  Europe  were  the  open  or  secret  enemies  of  France — 
civil  war  raged  within  her  borders;  the  hereditary  king  possessed 
many  partisans  in  every  province  ;  the  people,  continually  betrayed 
by  the  faqtions  which  murdered  and  succeeded  each  other,  had  im. 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  303 

bibed  a  portion  of  their  ferocity,  and  every  town  and  village  wit 
nessed  the  indiscriminate  slaughter  of  both  men  and  women,  of  all 
parties  and  principles.  Does  the  history  of  Colombia,  since  the  ex 
pulsion  of  the  Spaniards,  present  any  parallel  to  these  scenes?  Her 
frontiers  have  been  never  seriously  menaced— no  civil  war  raged — 
not  a  partisan  of  the  former  government  was  to  be  found  in  the 
•whole  extent  of  her  territory—  no  factions  contended  with  each  other 
for  the  possession  of  power;  the  executive  government  remained  in 
the  hands  of  those  to  whom  it  had  been  committed  by  the  people, 
in  a  fair  election.  In  fact,  no  people  ever  passed  from  under  the 
yoke  of  a  despotic  government,  to  the  enjoyment  of  entire  freedom, 
with  less  disposition  to  abuse  their  newly  acquired  power,  than  those 
of  Colombia.  They  submitted,  indeed,  to  a  continuance  of  some  of  the 
most  arbitrary  and  unjust  features  which  distinguished  the  former  go 
vernment.  If  there  was  any  disposition,  on  the  part  of  the  great  mass 
of  the  people,  to  effect  any  change  in  the  existing  order  of  things  ; 
if  the  Colombians  act  from  the  same  motives  and  upon  the  same 
principles  which  govern  mankind  elsewhere,  and  in  all  ages,  they 
would  have  desired  to  take  from  the  government  a  part  of  the  power, 
which,  in  their  inexperience,  they  had  confided  to  it.  The  monopoly 
of  certain  articles  of  agricultural  produce,  and  the  oppressive  duty 
of  the  Alcavala,  might  have  been  tolerated,  until  the  last  of  their 
Tyrants  were  driven  from  the  country.  But  when  peace  was  restored, 
when  not  one  enemy  remained  within  its  borders,  it  might  reason 
ably  have  been  supposed  that  the  people  would  have  desired  to 
abolish  these  remains  of  arbitrary  government,  and  substitute  for 
them  some  tax  more  equal  and  accordant  with  republican  principles. 

On  the  contrary,  it  is  pretended  that  they  had  become  enamoured 
with  these  despotic  measures,  and  so  disgusted  with  the  freedom 
they  did  enjoy,  that  they  were  more  than  willing  to  commit  their 
destinies  to  the  uncontrolled  will  of  your  Excellency.  Let  me 
assure  you,  sir,  that  these  assertions  will  gain  no  credit  with  the 
present  generation,  or  with  posterity.  They  will  demand  the  facts 
which  had  induced  a  people,  by  no  means  deficient  in  intelligence, 
so  soon  to  abandon  the  principles  for  which  they  had  so  gallantly 
fought,  and  tamely  surrender  that  liberty,  which  "had  been  obtained 
at  the  expense  of  so  much  blood.  And  what  facts  can  be  produced? 
It  cannot  be  said  that  life  and  property  were  not  as  well  protected 
under  the  republican  government,  as  they  have  ever  been  ;  nor  that 
there  existed  any  opposition  to  the  constitution  and  laws,  too  strong 
for  the  ordinary  powers  of  the  government  to  put  down. 

If  the  insurrection  of  General  Paez,  in  Venezuela,  is  adduced,  1 
would  ask,  by  what  means  was  he  reduced  to  obedience?  Your 
Excellency,  the  legitimate  head  of  the  republic,  appeared,  and,  in  a 
moment,  all  opposition  ceased,  and  Venezuela  was  restored  to  the 
republic.  But,  it  is  said,  that  this  was  effected  by  your  personal 
inHuence,  or  the  dread  of  your  military  talents,  and  that,  to  keep 
General  Paez,  and  other  ambitious  chiefs,  from  dismembering  the 
republic,  it  was  necessary  to  invest  your  Excellency  with  the  extra 
ordinary  powers  you  poeeess.  There  would  be  some  reason  in  this, 
if  you  had  refused  to  act,  without  these  powers ;  or,  having  acted  as 
•  you  did,  you  had  been  unable  to  accomplish  any  tiling  without  them. 
But  you  succeeded  completely,  and  there  ran  be  no  possible  reason 


304  MEMOIR    OF 

assigned,  why  you  would  not  have  succeeded,  with  the  same  means, 
against  any  future  attempt  of  general  Paez,  or  any  other  general. 

There  appears,  however,  to  be  one  sentiment,  in  which  all  parties 
unite ;  that  is,  that,  as  matters  now  stand,  you  alone  can  save  the 
country  from  ruin,  at  least,  from  much  calamity.  They  differ,  how 
ever,  very  widely,  as  to  the  measures  to  be  taken  to  put  your  Excel 
lency  in  the  way  to  render  this  important  service.  The  lesser,  and 
more  interested  party,  is  for  placing  the  government  in  your  hands 
for  life  ;  either  with  your  present  title,  or  with  one  which,  it  must 
be  confessed,  better  accords  with  the  nature  of  the  powers  to  be 
exercised.  If  they  adopt  the  less  offensive  title,  and  if  they  weave 
into  their  system  some  apparent  checks  to  your  will,  it.  is  only  for 
the  purpose  of  masking,  in  some  degree,  their  real  object ;  which  is 
nothing  short  of  the  establishment  of  a  despotism.  The  plea  of 
necessity,  that  eternal  argument  of  all  conspirators,  ancient  or 
modern,  against  the  rights  of  mankind,  will  be  resorted  to,  to  induce 
you  to  accede  to  their  measures ;  and  the  unsettled  state  of  the 
country,  which  has  been  designedly  produced  by  them,  will  be  adduced 
as  evidence  of  that  necessity. 

There  is  but  one  way  for  your  Excellency  to  escape  from  the 
snares  which  have  been  so  artfully  laid  to  entrap  you,  and  that  is, 
to  stop  short  in  the  course  which,  unfortunately,  has  been  already 
commenced.  Every  step  you  advance,  under  the  influence  of  such 
councils,  will  make  retreat  more  difficult,  until  it  will  become  im 
practicable.  You  will  be  told  that  the  intention  is  only  to  vest  you 
with  authority  to  correct  what  is  wrong  in  the  administration,  and 
to  put  down  the  factions,  and  that,  when  the  country  once  enjoys 
tranquillity,  the  government  may  be  restored  to  the  people.  Delu 
sive  will  be  the  hopes  of  those  who  rely  upon  this  declaration.  The 
promised  hour  of  tranquillity  will  never  arrive.  If  events  tended 
to  produce  it,  they  would  be  counteracted  by  the  troveninient  itself. 
It  was  the  strong  remark  of  a  former  President  of  the  United  States, 
that,  "  Sooner  will  the  lover  be  contented  with  the  first  smiles  of  his 
mistross,  than  a  government  cease  to  endeavour  to  preserve  and 
extend  its  powers."  With  whatever  reluctance  your  Excellency 
may  commence  the  career;  with  whatever  disposition  to  abandon 
it,  when  the  objects  for  which  it  was  commenced  have  been  obtained; 
when  once  fairly  entered,  you  will  be  borne  along  by  the  irresistible 
force  of  pride,  habit  of  command,  and,  indeed,  of  self-preservation. 
and  it  will  be  impossible  to  recede. 

But,  it  is  said,  that  it  is  for  the  benefit  of  the  people  that,  the  pro 
posed  change  is  to  be  made ;  and  that  by  your  talents  and  influence, 
alone,  aided  by  unlimited  power,  the  ambitions  chiefs  in  the  differ 
ent  departments  are  to  be  restrained,  and  the  integrity  of  the  repub 
lic  preserved.  I  have  said,  and  I  most  sincerely  believe,  that,  from 
the  state  into  which  the  country  has  been  brought,  that  you  alone 
can  preserve  it  from  the  horrors  of  anarchy.  But  I  cannot  conceive 
that  any  extraordinary  powers  are  necessary.  The  authority  to  see 
that  the  laws  are  executed;  to  call  out  the  strength  of  the  country, 
to  enforce  their  execution,  is  all  that  is  required,  and  is  what  is  pos 
sessed  by  the  Chief  Magistrate  of  the  United  States,  and  of  every 
other  republic ;  and  is  what  was  confided  to  the  executive,  by  the 
constitution  of  Cucuta.  Would  your  talents  or  your  energies  be 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  305 

impaired  in  the  council,  or  the  field,  or  your  influence  lessened,  when 
acting  as  the  head  of  a  republic  ? 

I  propose  to  examine,  very  briefly,  the  results  which  are  likely  to 
flow  from  the  proposed  change  of  government :  1st,  in  relation  to  the 
country  ;  and,  2d,  to  yourself,  personally.  Is  the  tranquillity  of  the 
country  to  be  secured  by  it?  Is  it  possible  for  your  Excellency  to 
believe,  that  when  the  mask  has  been  thrown  oft',  and  the  people  dis 
cover  that  a  despotic  government  has  been  fixed  upon  them,  that 
they  will  quietly  submit  to  it?  Will  they  forget  the  pass-word 
which,  like  the  cross  of  fire,  was  the  signal  for  rallying  to  oppose 
their  former  tyrants  ?  Will  the  virgins,  at  your  bidding,  cease  to 
chaunt  the  songs  of  liberty,  which  so  lately  animated  the  youth  to 
victory  ?  Was  the  patriotic  blood  of  Colombia  all  expended  in  the 
fields  of  Vargas,  Bayaca,  and  Carebobo  ?  The  schools  may  cease  to 
enforce  upon  their  pupils  the  love  of  country,  drawn  from  the  ex 
amples  of  Cato  and  the  Bruti,  Harmodius  and  Aristogiton  ;  but  the 
glorious  example  of  patriotic  devotion,  exhibited  in  your  own  Ha 
cienda,  will  supply  their  place.  Depend  on  it,  sir,  that  the  moment 
which  shall  announce  the  continuance  of  arbitrary  power  in  your 
hands,  will  be  the  commencement  of  commotions  which  will  require 
all  your  talents  and  energies  to  suppress.  You  may  succeed.  The 
disciplined  army,  at  your  disposal,  may  be  too  powerful  for  an  un 
armed,  undisciplined,  and  scattered  population;  but  one  unsuccessful 
effort  will  not  content  them,  and  your  feelings  will  be  eternally 
racked  by  being  obliged  to  make  war  upon  those  who  have  been 
accustomed  to  call  you  their  father,  and  to  invoke  blessings  on  your 
head,  arid  for  no  cause  but  their  adherence  to  principles  which  you 
yourself  had  taught  them  to  regard  more  than  their  lives. 

If  by  the  strong  government  which  the  advocates  for  the  proposed 
change  so  strenuously  recommend,  07ie  without  responsibility  is  in 
tended,  which  may  put  men  to  death,  and  immure  them  in  dungeons, 
without  trial,  and  one  where  the  army  is  everything,  and  the  people 
nothing,  I  must  say,  that,  if  the  tranquillity  of  Colombia  is  to  be 
preserved  in  this  way,  the  wildest  anarchy  would  be  preferable.  Out 
of  that  anarchy  a  better  government  might  arise  ;  but  the  chains  of 
military  despotism  once  fastened  upon  a  nation,  ages  might  pass 
away  before  they  could  be  shaken  off. 

But  I  contend  that  the  strongest  of  all  governments  is  that  which 
is  most  free.  We  consider  that  of  the  United  States  as  the  strongest, 
precisely  because  it  is  the  most  free.  It  possesses  the  faculties,  equally 
to  protect  itself  from  foreign  force  or  internal  convulsion.  In  both, 
it  has  been  sufficiently  tried.  In  no  country  upon  earth,  would  an 
armed  opposition  to  the  laws  be  sooner  or  more  effectually  put 
down.  Not  so  much  by  the  terrors  of  the  guillotine  and  the  gibbet, 
as  from  the  aroused  determination  of  the  nation,  exhibiting  their 
strength,  and  convincing  the  factious  that  thsiir  cause  was  hopeless. 
No,  sir,  depend  upon  it,  that  the  possession  of  arbitrary  power,  by 
the  government  of  Colombia,  will  not  be  the  means  of  securing  it's 
tranquillity;  nor  will  the  danger  of  disturbances  solely  arise  from 
the  opposition  of  the  people.  The  power,  and  the  military  force 
which  it  will  be  necessary  to  put  in  the  hands  of  the  governors  of 
the  distant  provinces,  added  to  the  nature  of  the  country,  will  con 
tinually  present  to  those  officers  the  temptation,  and  the  means  of 
revolt. 

26* 


306  MEMOIR    OF 

Will  the  proposed  change  restore  prosperity  to  the  country? 
With  the  best  intentions  to  do  so,  will  you  be  able  to  recall  com 
merce  to  its  shores  and  give  new  life  to  the  drooping  state  of  agri 
culture  ?  The  cause  of  the  constant  decline,  in  these  great  interests, 
cannot  he  mistaken.  It  arises  from  the  fewness  of  those  who 
labour,  and  the  number  of  those  who  are  to  be  supported  by  that 
labour.  To  support  a  swarm  of  luxurious  arid  idle  monks,  and  an 
army  greatly  disproportioned  to  the  resources  of  the  country,  with 
a  body  of  officers  in  a  tenfold  degree  disproportioned  to  the  army, 
every  branch  of  industry  is  oppressed  with  burdens  which  deprive 
the  ingenious  man  of  the  profits  of  his  ingenuity,  and  the  labourer 
of  his  reward.  To  satisfy  the  constant  and  pressing  demands 
which  are  made  upon  it,  the  treasury  seizes  upon  every  thing  within 
its  grasp — destroying  the  very  germ  of  future  prosperity.  Is  there 
any  prospect  that  these  evils  will  cease  with  the  proposed  change? 
Can  the  army  be  dispensed  with?  Will  the  influence  of  the  monks 
be  no  longer  necessary  ?  Believe  me,  sir,  that  the;  support  which  the 
government  derives  from  both  these'sources,  will  be  more  than  ever 
requisite. 

But  the  most  important  inquiry  is,  the  effect  which  this  strong 
government  is  to  have  upon  the  people  themselves.  Will  it  tend  to 
improve  and  elevate  their  character,  and  fit  them  for  the  freedom 
which  it  is  pretended  is  ultimately  to  be  bestowed  upon  them? 
The  question  has  been  answered  from  the  age  of  Homer.  Man  does 
not  learn  under  oppression  those  noble  qualities  and  feelings  which 
fit  him  for  the  enjoyment  of  liberty.  Nor  is  despotism  the  proper 
school  in  which  to  acquire  the  knowledge  of  the  principles  of  re 
publican  government.  A  government  whose  revenues  are  derived 
from  diverting  the  very  sources  of  wealth  from  its  subjects,  will 
not  find  the  means  of  improving  the  morals  and  enlightening  the 
minds  of  the  youth,  by  supporting  systems  of  liberal  education; 
and,  if  itconld.it  would  not. 

In  relation  to  the  effect  which  this  investment,  of  power  is  to  have 
upon  your  happiness  and  your  fame,  will  the  pomp  and  glitter  of  a 
court,  and  the  flattery  of  venal  courtiers,  reward  you  for  the  troubles 
and  anxieties  attendant  upon  the  exercise  of  sovereignty,  every 
where,  and  those  which  will  flow  from  your  peculiar  situation  ? 
Or  power,  supported  by  the  bayonet,  for  that  willing  homage  which 
you  were  wont  to  receive  from  your  fellow-citizens?  The  groans  of 
a  dissatisfied  and  oppressed  people  will  penetrate  the  inmost  re 
cesses  of  your  palace,  and  you  will  be  tortured  by  the  reflection,  that 
you  no  longer  possess  that  place  in  their  affections,  which  was  once 
your  pride  and  your  boast,  and  which  would  have  been  your  solace 
under  every  reverse  of  fortune.  Unsupported  by  the  people,  your 
authority  can  be  maintained,  only,  by  the  terrors  of  the  sword  and 
the  scaffold.  And  have  these  ever  been  successful  under  similar 
circumstances?  Blood  may  smother,  for  a  period,  but  can  never 
extinguish  the  fire  of  liberty,  which  you  have  contributed  so  much 
to  kindle,  in  the  bosom  of  e^ery  Colombian. 

I  will  not  urge,  as  an  argument,  the  personal  dangers  to  which 
you  will  be  exposed.  But  I  will  ask  if  you  could  enjoy  life,  which 
would  be  preserved  by  the  constant  execution  of  so  many  human 
beings— your  countrymen,  your  former  friends,  and  almost  your 
worshippers.  The  pangs  of  such  a  situation  will  be  made  more 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  307 

acute,  by  reflecting  on  the  hallowed  motive  of  many  of  those  who 
would  aim  their  daggers  at  your  bosom.  That,  like  the  last  of  the 
Romans,  they  would  strike,  not  from  hatred  to  the  man,  but  love  to 
the  country. 

From  a  knowledge  of  your  own  disposition,  and  present  feelings, 
your  Excellency  will  not  be  willing  to  believe,  that  you  could  ever 
be  brought  to  commit  an  act  of  tyranny,  or  even  to  execute  justice 
with  unnecessary  rigour.  But  trust  me,  sir.  that  there  is  nothing 
more  corrupting,  nothing  more  destructive  of  the  noblest  and  finest 
feelings  of  our  nature,  than  the  exercise  of  unlimited  power.  The 
man  who.  in  the  beginning  of  such  a  career,  might  shudder  at  the 
idea  of  taking  away  the  life  of  a  fellow-being,  might  soon  have  his 
conscience  so  seared  by  the  repetition  of  crime,  that  the  agonies  of 
his  murdered  victims  might  become  music  to  his  soul,  and  the  drip 
pings  of  his  scaffold  afford  "  blood  enough  to  swim  in."  History  is 
full  of  such  examples. 

From  this  disgusting  picture,  permit  me  to  call  the  attention  of 
your  Excellency  to  one  of  a  different  character.  It  exhibits  you  as 
the  constitutional  Chief  Magistrate  of  a  free  people.  Giving  to 
their  representatives  the  influence  of  your  great  name  and  talents, 
to  reform  the  abuses  which,  in  a  long  reign  of  tyranny  and  misrule, 
have  fastened  upon  every  branch  of  the  administration.  The  army, 
and  its  swarm  of  officers,  reduced  within  the  limits  of  real  useful 
ness,  placed  on  the  frontiers,  and  no  longer  permitted  to  control 
public  opinion,  and  be  the  terror  of  the  peaceful  citizen.  By  the 
removal  of  this  incubus  from  the  treasury,  and  the  establishment 
of  order,  responsibility,  and  economy,  in  the  expenditures  of  the 
government,  it  would  soon  be  enabled  to  dispense  with  the  odious 
monopolies,  and  the  duty  of  the  Mcavala,  which  have  operated  with 
so  malign  an  effect  upon  commerce  and  agriculture,  and,  indeed, 
upon  the  revenues  wiiich  they  were  intended  to  augment.  No 
longer  oppressed  by  these  shackles,  industry  would  everywhere  re 
vive  :  the  farmer  and  the  artisan,  cheered  by  the  prospect  of  ample 
reward  for  their  labour,  would  redouble  their  exertions:  foreigners, 
with  their  capital  and  skill  in  the  arts,  would  crowd  hither,  toenjoy 
the  advantages  which  could  scarcely,  elsewhere,  be  found:  and 
Colombia  would  soon  exhibit  the  reality  of  the  beautiful  fiction  of 
Fenelon — Salentum  rising  from  misery  and  oppression,  to  prosperity 
and  happiness,  under  the  councils  and  direction  of  the  concealed 
goddess. 

What  objections  can  be  urged  against  this  course  1  Can  any  one, 
acquainted  with  the  circumstances  of  the  country,  doubt  its  success, 
in  restoring  and  maintaining  tranquillity?  The  people  would  cer 
tainly  not  revolt  atrainst  themselves;  and  none  of  the  chiefs  who 
are  supposed  to  be  factiously  inclined,  would  think  of  opposing  the 
strength  of  the  nation,  when  directed  by  your  talents  and  authority. 
But  it  is  said,  that  the  want  of  intelligence  amongst  the  people 
unfits  them  for  the  government.  Is  it  not  right,  however,  that  the 
experiment  should  be  fairly  tried?  I  have  already  said,  that  this 
has  not.  been  done.  For  myself.  I  do  not  hesitate  to  declare  my  firm 
belief,  that,  it  will  succeed.  The  people  of  Colombia  possess  many 
traits  of  character,  suitable  for  a  republican  government.  A  more 
orderly,  forbearing,  and  well -disposed  people  are  nowhere  to  be 
met  with.  Indeed,  it  may  safely  be  asserted,  thnt  their  faults  and 
vices  are  attributable  to  the  cursed  government  to  which  they  have 
been  so  long  subjected,  and  to  the  intolerant  character  of  the  religion, 
whilst  their  virtues  are  nil  their  own.  Hut,  admitting  their  present 


308  MEMOIR    OF 

want  of  intelligence,  no  one  has  ever  doubted  their  capacity  to  ac 
quire  knowledge,  and  under  the  strung  motives  which  exist,  to  ob 
tain  it,  supported  by  the  influence  of  your  Excellency,  it  would 
soon  be  obtained. 

To  yourself,  the  advantage  would  be  as  great  as  to  the  country  ; 
like  acts  of  mercy,  the  blessings  would  be  reciprocal ;  your  personal 
liappiness  secured,  and  your  fame  elevated  to  a  height  which  would 
leave  but  a  single  competition  in  the  estimation  of  posterity.  In 
bestowing  the  palm  of  merit,  the  world  has  become  wiser  than 
formerly.  THe  successful  warrior  is  no  jonger  regarded  as  entitled 
to  the  first  place  in  the  temple  of  fame.  Talents  of  this  kind  have 
become  too  common,  and  too  often  used  Air  mischievous  purposes, 
to  be  regarded  as  they  once  were.  In  thrs  enlightened  age,  the 
mere  hero  of  the  field,  and  the  successful  leader  of  armies,  may,  for 
the  moment,  attract  attention.  But  it  will  he  such  as  is  bestowed 
upon  the  passing  meteor,  whose  blaze  is  no  longer  remembered, 
when  it  is  no  longer  seen.  To  be  esteemed  eminently  great,  it  is 
necessary  to  be  eminently  good.  The  qualities  of  the  hero  and  the 
general  must  be  devoted  to  the  advantage  of  mankind,  before  he 
will  be  permitted  to  assume  the  title  of  their  benefactor;  and  the 
station  which  he  will  hold  in  their  regard  and  affections  will  depend, 
not  upon  the  number  and  the  splendor  of  his  victories,  but  upon  there- 
suits  and  the  use  he  may  make  of  the  influence  he  acquires  from  them, 

If  the  fame  of  our  Washington  depended  upon  his  military 
achievements,  would  the  common  consent  of  the  world  allow  him 
the  pre-eminence  he  possesses?  The  victories  at  Trenton,  Mon- 
inouth,  and  York,  brilliant  as  they  were,  exhibiting,  as  they  cer 
tainly  did,  the  highest  grade  of  military  talents,  are  scarcely 
thought  of.  The  source  of  the  veneration  and  esteem  which  is  en 
tertained  for  his  character,  by  every  description  of  politicians— the 
monarchist  and  aristocrat,  as  well  as  the  republican,  is  to  be  found 
in  his  undeviating  and  exclusive  devotedness  to  the  interest  of  his 
country.  No  selfish  consideration  was  ever  suffered  to  intrude 
itself  into  his  mind.  For  his  country  he  conquered ;  and  the  un 
rivalled  and  increasing  prosperity  of  that  country  is  constantly 
adding  fresh  glory  to  his  name.  General ;  the  course  which  he  pur 
sued  is  open  to  you,  and  it  depends  upon  yourself  to  attain  the 
eminence  which  he  has  reached  before  you. 

To  the  eyes  of  military  men,  the  laurels  you  won  on  the  fields  of 
Vargas,  Bayaca,  andCarebobo,  will  be  for  evergreen  ;  but  will  that 
content  yoii  ?  Are  you  willing  that  your  name  should  descend  to 
posterity,  amongst  the  mass  of  those  whose  fame  has  been  derived 
from  shedding  human  blood,  without  a  single  advantage  to  the  hu 
man  race?  Or.  shall  it  be  united  to  that  of  Washington,  as  the 
founder  and  the  father  of  a  great  and  happy  people?  The  choice  is 
before  you.  The  friends  of  liberty  throughout  the  world,  and  the 
people  of  the  United  States  in  particular,  are  waiting  your  decision 
with  intense  anxiety.  Alexander  toiled  and  conquered  to  attain 
the  applause  of  the  Athenians;  will  you  regard  as  nothing  the 
opinions  of  a  nation  which  has  evinced  its  superiority  over  that 
celebrated  people,  in  the  science  most  useful  to  man,  by  having  car 
ried  into  actual  practice  a  system  of  government,  of  which  the 
wisest  Athenians  had  but  a  glimpse  in  theory,  and  considered  as  a 
blessing  never  to  be  realized,  however  ardently  to  be  desired  ?  The 
place  which  you  are  to  occupy  in  their  esteem  depends  upon  your 
self.  Farewell. 

W.  H. 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  309 

CHAPTER  XXII. 
Conclusion — Character  of  General  H<irrison. 

WE  must  now  review  some  of  the  ground  that 
we  have  passed  over,  for  the  purpose  of  presenting 
in  another  point  of  view,  the  public  services  of  the 
distinguished  individual,  whose  eventful  career  has 
occupied  our  attention.  We  have  more  than  once 
alluded  to  the  integrity  and  distinterestedness  of 
general  Harrison ;  we  have  noticed  his  patriotism 
and  devotedness  to  country ;  and  we  now  propose 
to  offer  some  proofs  of  the  display  of  those  quali 
ties,  in  addition  to  the  evidence  afforded  by  his 
public  acts. 

We  have  seen  that  General  Harrison  never  con 
templated  the  military  service  as  a  permanent  pro 
fession.  When  the  first  war  for  independence  was 
terminated  by  the  victory  of  Wayne,  and  the  de 
livery  of  the  British  posts  in  the  north-west,  he 
threw  aside  the  habiliments  of  the  soldier,  and  ac 
cepted  a  civil  office.  He  passed  from  one  grade  to 
another,  enjoying  successively  the  confidence  of  the 
elder  Adams,  Jefferson,  and  Madison,  and  of  the 
people  of  Ohio  and  Indiana.  As  governor  of 
Indiana,  and  as  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs, 
for  thirteen  years,  large  sums  of  money  passed 


310  MEMOIR    OF 

through  his  hands,  to  be  disbursed  at  his  discretion, 
and  subjected  to  few  of  the  checks  which  are  now 
provided,  under  the  admirable  arrangement  of  the 
offices  at  Washington.  He  gave  no  security  ;  nor 
had  the  government  any  other  guarantee  for  the 
faithful  application  of  those  funds,  but  his  prudence 
and  honesty.  That  he  was  true  to  his  trust,  is 
obvious  from  the  facts,  that  he  remained  poor,  and 
did  not  become  the  debtor  of  the  government.  He 
made  no  speculation  upon  the  public  money,  or 
lands. 

In  the  expedition  to  Tippecanoe,  he  led  the  mili 
tia  of  his  own  territory,  and  a  few  volunteers  from 
Kentucky,  into  the  field,  as  governor  of  Indiana, 
and  commander-in-chief  of  its  militia.  The  com 
mand  that  he  afterwards  held  on  the  north-western 
frontier,  was  given  him  at  the  spontaneous  call  of 
the  western  people.  He  did  not  seek  the  office  nor 
the  emoluments  of  a  general ;  but  willingly  led  his 
fellow-citizens  to  battle,  sharing  with  them  the  la 
bours,  the  dangers,  and  the  honours  of  war,  and 
retiring  with  them  to  private  life,  when  the  contest 
ceased. 

As  commander-in-chief,  he  was  subjected  to 
heavy  expenses.  His  command  was  spread  over 
so  wide  a  territory,  that  he  was  obliged  to  travel 
incessantly,  and  to  entertain  a  large  suite.  Nearly 
all  his  operations  were  carried  on  with  militia ;  and 
the  measures  necessary  to  draw  out  these  troops 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  311 

to  the  field,  to  conciliate  them  while  there,  and  to 
retain  them  in  service,  obliged  him  to  maintain  an 
extensive  intercourse  with  influential  citizens,  and 
to  receive  many  of  them  at  his  head  quarters.  Un 
like  the  leader  of  a  regular  army,  who  is  provided 
with  troops  and  supplies,  and  is  independent  of  the 
country,  General  Harrison  was  placed  in  a  kind 
of  political  relation  to  the  people,  which  required 
that  he  should  possess  their  confidence  and  good 
will.     It  was  requisite,  therefore,  that  he   should 
keep^/iree  quarters,  for  the  reception  of  such  of  his 
fellow-citizens  as  visited  him  on  business,  or  came 
to  see  their  friends  in  the  army.     His  expenses  so 
far  exceeded  his  pay,  that  he  was  obliged  to  sell  a 
fine  tract  of  land,  during  the  war,  to  meet  them  ; 
so  that  he  not  only  exposed  his  life,  and  gave  his 
labour  to  his  country,  but  contributed  a  portion  of 
his  small  estate  to  sustain  her  in  one  of  the  darkest 
periods  of  her  existence. 

He  had  purchased  from  the  government  several 
fine  tracts  of  land,  in  Indiana,  on  the  Ohio  river,  on 
which,  under  the  system  of  sale  then  practised, 
only  part  of  the  purchase  money  was  paid.  The 
final  payment  became  due  while  the  general  was 
on  the  frontier ;  and,  for  want  of  money  to  meet  it, 
the,,  land  was  forfeited.  It  is  true  that  under  a  sub 
sequent  law,  he  received  back  the  snm  he  had 
actually  paid  in  ;  but  this  was  no  compensation  for 
the  loss  of  a  body  of  fine  land,  which  is  now  per- 


314  MEMOIJR    OF 

what  he  considered  an  act  of  duty,  except  a  few 
hundred  dollars,  being  the  difference  between  the 
actual  value  when  sold,  and  the  amount  paid  at  the 
sheriff's  sale.  Included  in  the  tract,  however,  were 
twelve  acres,  of  the  most  valuable  part,  which 
were  actually  the  property  of  Mr.  Harrison,  by  do 
nation  from  his  father-in-law,  and  in  his  possession 
at  the  time  of  the  sale  under  the  execution,  ana 
which  were  improperly  included  in  the  sale,  ir* 
consequence  of  his  title  not  appearing  of  record. 
This  he  might  have  retained  both  legally  and  equi 
tably  ;  but  such  was  his  nice  regard  for  his  reputa 
tion,  and  his  scrupulous  desire  to  do  all  the  justice 
that  others  were  disposed  to  claim  of  him,  that  he 
agreed  to  receive  for  this  portion,  as  well  as  the 
other,  a  small  payment,  which,  with  the  amount 
for  which  it  was  struck  off  at  the  sale,  would  make 
up  what  was  supposed  to  have  been  its  value  when 
sold.  The  last  described  portion  thus  relinquished, 
is  now  worth  one  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

It  is  well  known,  that  it  has  not  been  uncom 
mon  for  gentlemen  holding  high  offices,  to  avail 
•themselves  of  their  influence  to  provide  for  their 
relatives/  A  large  number  of  the  members  of  Con 
gress,  and  other  high  functionaries,  have  procured 
appointments  for  their  sons  in  the  military  academy 
at  West  Point,  or  in  the  navy,  by  means  of  which 
these  young  gentlemen  are  educated  and  provided 
for,  at  an  early  age,  at  the  expense  of  the  govern- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  815 

ment.  Many  of  those  who  thus  relieve  themselves 
of  the  expense  of  educating  their  own  sons,  are 
wealthy  men.  General  Harrison  has  had  a  nu 
merous  family,  mostly  sons,  and  has  never  been 
wealthy.  He  has  always,  since  his  sons  have  been 
old  enough  to  be  educated,  until  very  lately,  held 
offices  of  high  grade  and  influence,  and  could  at 
any  time  have  procured  such  a  favour  by  asking 
for  it.  He  had  higher  claims  to  such  patronage 
than  most  men  ;  his  father  was  a  distinguished  pa 
triot  of  the  revolution — he  himself  had  fought 
through  two  wars — one  of  his  sons  was  married  to 
the  daughter  of  the  lamented  General  Pike,  who 
fell  in  battle  during  the  last  war;  and  the  children 
of  this  marriage  became,  by  the  early  death  of  their 
father,  dependent  on  General  Harrison.  But  he 
educated  his  family  at  his  own  expense.  It  is  true, 
that  more  than  once,  while  in  Congress,  he  formed 
the  intention  of  placing  one  of  his  sons  at  West 
Point,  or  in  the  navy  ;  but  finding  the  applications 
from  his  own  state  more  numerous  than  could  be 
complied  with,  he  disinterestedly  waived  his  own 
claims  in  favour  of  his  constituents,  and  procured 
appointments  for  their  sons,  in  preference  to  his 
own.  On  one  occasion,  when  his  straitened  cir 
cumstances,  and  his  desire  to  place  one  of  his  sons 
in  the  military  profession,  had  induced  him  to  re 
solve  to  ask  an  appointment  for  him  at  West  Point, 
a  poor  neighbour  brought  to  him  a  fine  boy,  whom 


316  MEMOIR    OF 

he  was  wholly  unable  to  educate,  and  begged  him 
to  place  him  at  West  Point ;  the  general  took  the 
son  of  his  humble  constituent  under  his  patronage, 
procured  him  a  place  in  the  military  academy,  and 
has  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  him  become  a 
valuable  citizen,  high  in  office  in  one  of  the  western 
states. 

In  person  General  Harrison  is  tall  and  slender ; 
his  countenance  is  expressive  of  the  vivacity  and 
benevolence  of  his  character ;  his  fine  dark  eye  is 
remarkable  for  its  keenness,  fire,  and  intelligence. 
Although  from  early  manhood  he  has  never  had 
the  appearance  of  possessing  a  robust  constitution, 
yet  such  has  been  the  effect  of  an  active  life  and 
temperate  habits,  that  few  men  enjoy  at  his  age  so 
much  bodily  vigour,  or  moral  energy.  He  seldom 
or  never  partakes  of  ardent  spirits,  and  does  not 
habitually  use  even  wine.  Equally  moderate  in  his 
diet,  he  is  emphatically  a  temperate  man. 

He  is  remarkably  amiable  in  his  social  and  do 
mestic  relations.  Generous,  kind,  and  affectionate 
in  his  disposition — mild  and  forbearing  in  his  tem 
per — plain, easy,  and  unostentatious  in  his  manners, 
cheerful  and  affable  in  his  intercourse  with  his 
friends  and  with  strangers,  easily  accessible  to  all, 
and  unbounded  in  his  charities.  Warm  in  his  affec 
tions,  he  has  never  been  violent,  or  vindictive  in  his 
enmities.  Those  who  know  him  love  him,  and  his 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  317 

enemies  have  only  been  such  as  have  been  created 
by  his  political  relations,  or  by  the  operation  of 
causes  growing  out  of  party  feeling.  In  a  long  life 
of  collision  with  men  of  every  class — frequently 
with  the  most  fierce,  turbulent,  and  ungovernable, 
we  have  no  knowledge  of  his  having  been  engaged 
in  personal  hostilities,  or  in  a  duel ;  and  such  was 
the  effect  of  his  mild  and  gentlemanly  example, 
that  not  a  duel  was  fought  in  the  north-western 
army  while  he  commanded. 

The  son  of  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  and  reared  under  the  eye  and  in 
fluence  of  the  founders  of  our  government,  he  early 
imbibed  a  deep  reverence  for  the  constitution,  which 
has  been  evinced  in  all  his  public  acts,  through  life. 
From  the  house  of  his  father,  the  guardianship  of 
Robert  Morris,  and  the  patronage  of  Washington, 
he  passed  into  the  service  of  his  country  in  the 
companionship  of  Wayne,  St.  Clair,  and  other 
illustrious  men,  of  that  noble  band  who  laid  the 
foundations  of  our  liberty.  In  civil  office  he  became 
associated  with  Jefferson,  Madison,  Monroe,  and 
other  master  spirits,  who,  while  they  were  among 
the  fathers  of  the  constitution,  were  also  the  great 
leaders  of  the  democratic  party.  They  professed 
the  principles  which  had  been  instilled  into  his 
mind  from  early  infancy,  and  which,  in  the  mature 
reflection  of  manhood,  he  considered  right;  and  he 
acted  with  the  democratic  party  consistently  and 
27* 


318  MEMOIR    OF 

steadily.  From  early  associations,  therefore,  as 
well  as  from  principle,  he  has  retained  through 
all  the  vicissitudes  of  his  life,  an  ardent  love,  and  a 
deep  reverence  for  the  pure  maxims  of  the  revolu 
tion  ;  and  has  been  in  the  habit  of  testing  his  politi 
cal  opinions  by  the  constitution  itself,  and  the  con 
temporaneous  expositions  of  its  framers. 

In  civil  office,  and  in  military  command,  he  was 
always  just,  moderate,  and  firm ;  avoiding  violent 
and  arbitrary  measures,  and  preferring  to  govern  by 
persuasion  and  argument. 

The  talents  and  attainments  of  General  Harrison 
may  be  estimated  from  his  writings,  his  speeches, 
and  his  acts.  The  man  who  would  deny  to  him  a 
high  order  of  intellect,  must  be  regardless  of  the 
evidence  of  history.  For  forty  years  his  name  has 
been  associated  with  the  most  important  transactions 
of  our  country,  and  the  proofs  of  his  intellectual 
endowments  may  be  found  on  its  records.  The 
lawyer  whose  whole  time  has  been  devoted  to  the 
examination  of  a  particular  class  of  subjects,  may 
be  able  to  embody  his  thoughts  on  a  question  of 
constitutional  or  municipal  law  with  more  technical 
precision,  and  mould  his  language  with  greater  art 
and  sophistry.  The  trained  politician,  whose  ener 
gies  have  been  devoted,  with  unceasing  vigilance, 
to  his  own  elevation,  who  has  watched  the  temper 
of  the  times,  and  the  fluctuating  opinions  of  parties, 
may  be  more  expert  in  making  or  in  seizing  occa- 


WILLIAM   HENRY    HARRISON.  319 

sions  to  display  his  patriotism  or  address.  But 
General  Harrison  may  be  advantageously  compared 
with  any  of  his  contemporaries  as  a  man  of  abili 
ties,  and  as  a  sound  and  able  practical  politician. 
His  writings,  which  are  numerous,  speak  for  them 
selves  :  they  are  distinguished  by  clearness  and 
facility  of  composition.  Few  men  write  better  or  with 
greater  rapidity.  In  the  many  high  stations  which 
he  has  filled,  he  has  never  been  in  the  habit  of  em 
ploying  a  secretary  or  any  amanuensis,  to  write 
his  letters,  but  has  always  performed  this  duty  for 
himself.  He  is  an  animated  and  ready  speaker, 
fluent  in  language,  plain  but  not  ungraceful  in  man 
ner.  We  have  seldom  seen  any  one  who  is  so 
prompt  or  so  happy  in  an  extemporaneous  address. 
His  aptitude  and  readiness  in  bringing  the  resources 
of  a  highly  cultivated  mind  to  bear,  without  appa 
rent  premeditation,  upon  any  subject  which  may  be 
presented,  are  singularly  felicitous. 

It  was  this  rare  union  of  ability,  courtesy,  and 
moderation,  that  caused  General  Harrison  to  be  so 
much  beloved  by  the  militia  whom  he  commanded 
in  the  war.  These  were  the  qualities  that  won  for 
him  the  friendship  of  the  gallant  naval  hero  of 
Erie,  who  wrote  to  him  in  1813,  "You  know 
what  has  been  my  opinion  as  to  the  future  com- 
mander-in-chief  of  the  army.  I  pride  myself  not 
a  little,  I  assure  you,  on  seeing  my  predictions  so 
near  being  verified ;  yes,  my  dear  friend,  I  expect 


320  MEMOIR    OF 

soon  to  hail  you  as  the  chief  who  is  to  redeem  the 
honour  of  our  arms  in  the  north."  The  man 
whose  character  could  extract  such  a  compliment 
from  the  modest  and  unassuming  Perry — himself  a 
daring  officer,  a  man  of  discernment,  who,  after 
achieving  one  of  the  noblest  of  the  victories  that 
grace  our  annals,  voluntarily  accompanied  Harri 
son  to  the  field,  and  acted  as  his  aid  at  the  battle 
of  the  Thames — the  man,  we  say,  who  could  ex 
tract  such  a  compliment  from  such  a  source,  must 
have  high  merits. 

Another  distinguished  witness  of  the  conduct  of 
Harrison  —  General  M'Arthur,  who  had  served 
under  him,  wrote  to  him  in  1814:  —  "You,  sir, 
stand  the  highest  with  the  militia  of  this  state  of 
any  general  in  the  service,  and  I  am  confident  that 
no  man  can  fight  them  to  so  great  an  advantage ; 
and  I  think  their  extreme  solicitude  may  be  the 
means  of  calling  you  to  this  frontier." 

General  Harrison  himself,  on  being  asked  how 
he  had  managed  to  gain  the  control  which  he 
always  swayed  over  the  militia,  answered,  "  By 
treating  them  with  affection  and  kindness  —  by 
always  recollecting  that  they  were  my  fellow-citi 
zens,  whose  feelings  I  was  bound  to  respect,  and 
by  sharing  on  every  occasion  the  hardships  which 
they  were  obliged  to  undergo." 

When  Commodore  Perry,  forgetting  his  own 
recent  daring,  remonstrated  with  General  Harri- 


WILLIAM    HENRY    HARRISON.  321 

son  on  his  exposure  of  his  own  person,  in  an  attack 
made  by  the  Indians  on  the  army,  at  Chatham, 
shortly  before  the  action  at  the  Thames,  and  also 
in  the  battle  of  the  Thames,  the  intrepid  leader 
replied,  that  "  it  was  necessary  that  a  general 
should  set  the  example." 

To  those  who  have  known  General  Harrison, 
this  recapitulation  of  his  virtues  and  services  may 
be  unnecessary.  The  pioneers  of  the  west,  who 
have  braved  the  elements  and  the  battle, — who 
"have  endured  hardships  and  privations, — will  not 
join  in  the  unmanly  endeavour  to  sacrifice  to  the 
fury  of  party  prejudice,  a  high-minded  and  highly 
gifted  patriot,  by  stigmatizing  him  as  "  a  military 
chieftain."  He  is  now  a  candidate  for  the  highest 
office  in  the  gift  of  the  people — not  by  his  own 
choice — not  by  the  dictation  of  a  self-constituted 
convention — not  by  the  prompting  of  a  midnight 
caucus — but  at  the  call  of  the  democracy  of  the 
land.  The  people  of  the  west,  who  know  the  ster 
ling  qualities  of  the  venerable  patriarch  of  North 
Bend,  will  sustain  that  call,  and  give  a  pledge  to 
their  fellow-citizens  throughout  the  union,  that  Har 
rison  is  the  man  we  have  represented  him. 

Harrison  was  among  those  who  came  to  the 
frontier  in  those  days  of  peril.  He  shared  the  toils, 
the  privations,  and  the  anxieties,  of  the  pioneers 
who  conquered  this  fair  land.  He  led  them  to 
battle  against  their  foes,  and  was  triumphant.  He 


322  MEMOIR  or 

represented  their  interests  on  the  floor  of  Congress, 
and  was  not  less  successful.  Appointed  their  go 
vernor,  he  won  their  confidence  and  love  by  his 
humane  conduct,  his  conciliatory  manners,  and  the 
unwearied  industry  with  which  he  discharged  the 
duties  of  his  office.  In  every  situation  they  have 
found  him  the  same.  When  high  in  civil  office,  he 
never  forgot  his  responsibility  to  the  people,  or 
abused  the  great  powers  with  which  he  was  intrust 
ed — when  placed  at  the  head  of  an  army,  he  was 
not  violent  nor  arbitrary.  He  never  rashly  exposed 
the  lives  of  his  men  in  battle,  for  the  selfish  purpose 
of  winning  laurels  to  deck  his  own  brow.  He  never 
crushed  others  that  he  might  stride  into  power 
himself.  He  never  set  aside  the  laws  of  his  coun 
try,  or  insulted  the  majesty  of  the  people  in  the 
persons  of  their  officers.  He  was  never  prodigal 
of  the  lives  or  property  of  his  fellow-citizens.  He 
was  a  brave  soldier,  without  being  a  violent  man — 
an  accomplished  leader,  without  inordinate  ambi 
tion — a  conqueror,  without  forgetting  the  precepts 
of  justice  and  mercy. 

Such  a  man  deserves  the  confidence  of  the  peo 
ple.  The  politicians  may  hesitate,  because  he  owes 
them  nothing.  The  leaders  of  parties  may  stand 
aloof,  because  he  is  not  enlisted  under  any  of  their 
banners. — He  is  the  candidate  of  the  people,  chosen 
by  themselves  from  their  own  ranks,  arid  indebted 
to  none  but  them  for  their  support.  They  know 


WILLIAM    HENRY   HARRISON.  323 

him  to  be  an  able  civilian,  and  an  honest  man. 
From  all  his  high  civil  trusts,  he  has.  carried  no 
spoils  into  private  life.  After  a  long  life  spent 
in  the  public  service,  he  is  living  upon  the  fruits 
of  his  daily  industry — a  plain  unassuming  man, 
beloved  and  respected  by  all  who  know  the  good 
ness  of  his  heart,  and  the  sterling  integrity  of  his 
conduct. 


THE   END. 


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